《Divorced and Dangerous Let the Heiress Games Begin》 Dangerous 1 Divorced and Dangerous: Let the Heiress Games Begin Webfic Chapter 1 The day Veronica Dolton returned to Shalton from Jouver happened to be her third wedding anniversary with Heath Tate. She had caught a bad flu before the trip, and the cough hadn¡¯t let up. Still, it had already been three months since shest saw Heath and their two children, Miriam Tate and Samuel Tate. Veronica insisted on going back anyway. The Tates were native to Shalton. After Shalton¡¯s economic shift, the family¡¯s business expanded into Jouver. They moved there, but the Tate residence remained rooted in Shalton. When Veronica arrived at the Tate residence, a news alert popped up on her phone. ¡°Mr. Tate Throws Lavish Bonfire Party for Award¨CWinning Actress Eleanor Turner.¡± Veronica¡¯s expression dulled. One of the housekeepers, Elsie Joseph¨Cwho was originally from Seabrook¨Cnoticed the headline and quickly tried to ease her worries. ¡°Mrs. Tate, you know how the Shalton tabloids are. They love exaggerating. Don¡¯t take it to heart. Mr. Tate¡¯s just tied up with business tonight.¡± Veronica didn¡¯t respond. She had messaged Heath before making the trip. It still sat quietly in her inbox, unread and unanswered. Heath hadn¡¯t even bothered to open it, let alone reply. She wasn¡¯t the type to dwell on things, but the thought lingered. A man like Heath, perched at the very top of Shalton¡¯s economic hierarchy, couldn¡¯t possibly be so consumed by work that he had no time to answer her message. She shook the thought away. Veronica took off her coat and headed toward the yroom to see Miriam and Samuel. It had only been three months, yet both of them had grown so much. She smiled softly as she crouched beside the twins, who were ying make¨Cbelieve with a small sandbox house. Inside each little sand castle, they had ced toy figurines¨Cclearly meant to represent the home¡¯s parents. Veronica teased gently, ¡°Miri, who are these two figures?¡± Miriam didn¡¯t even look up as she continued patting sand into ce. ¡°Dad and Ms. Turner.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not right,¡± Samuel chimed in, shaking his head. ¡°Ms. Turner lives in my house. Yours has Mom.¡± Chapter 1 ¡°But I want Ms. Turner to be my mom,¡± Miriam pouted. Veronica froze for a moment. She reached out to gently ruffle Miriam¡¯s hair. ¡°Am I not good enough?¡± ¡°You are. But Ms. Turner looks better with Dad,¡± Samuel chimed in,pletely sincere. Miriam nodded in agreement. Miriam, who had always been particr about her appearance, pulled away from Veronica¡¯s hand. ¡°Also, you¡¯re sick, Mom. Stay away from me. Don¡¯t touch my hair. Ms. Turner did this braid for me. If it gets messy, she¡¯ll be upset.¡± Veronica touched the edge of her mask, her fingers trembling just slightly. She looked at her twins, excitedly chatting about designing clothes for Eleanor. In the corner of the sandbox, a small figurine meant to represent hery forgotten and untouched. A bitter taste crept into her mouth, and her chest tightened. The ¡°Ms. Turner¡± her daughter spoke of was none other than Heath¡¯s first love. The Shalton tabloids painted them as a perfect match¨Cpicture¨Cperfect, even. Throughout the years that Veronica had been in a secret marriage with Heath, Eleanor was the woman the world believed to be ¡°Mrs. Tate¡°. What Veronica hadn¡¯t expected was that after just a few months apart, even her own children¨Cthe ones who shared her blood¨Cwould grow closer to Eleanor than to her. She lowered her gaze and watched in silence for a long time. It wasn¡¯t until the maid gently reminded her that she finally stood up and went upstairs to shower and rest. Just as she reached the top floor, Heath¡¯s secretary, Walter Caldwell, arrived. The moment he saw her, his expression flickered with surprise. ¡°Mrs. Tate, Mr. Tate won¡¯t be back tonight. He asked me to pick up a gift he had prepared for Ms. Turner.¡± Veronica gave a simple nod. ¡°Alright.¡± Walter left, and the pain in Veronica¡¯s chest deepened. Her husband remembered to prepare a gift for another woman, yetpletely forgot their third wedding anniversary. She tapped Heath¡¯s name and started a video call. He picked up quickly. ¡°What is it?¡± The screen lit up with a glimpse of his private lounge. It was sleek, luxurious, and bathed in golden light, radiating the opulence typical of Shalton¡¯s elite. Chapter Heath was wearing a six¨Cfigure, custom¨Ctailored suit, and he had a crystal winess in his hand. He leaned casually against the leather couch. There was none of the sharp calction typical of Shalton¡¯s businessmen in his demeanor. His features were refined and distant, noble in a way that felt almost inhuman. He was the man everyone admired but could never reach. And he was the man Veronica had loved for six years. Veronica steadied her voice. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other in a while. I thought maybe tonight-¡± ¡°Mr. Tate¡­¡± Before she could finish, a soft, syrupy voice cut in from his side. It was Eleanor. The call ended abruptly. Just before it disconnected, Heath left her with only three words. ¡°We¡¯ll talkter.¡± Veronica gripped her phone tightly. She stood by the window, staring at the glowing skyline of Shalton. The streets pulsed with traffic, alive with motion and sound. Towering ss buildings glowed beneath the night sky, their lights painting the city in vibrant color¨Cdazzling, endless, almost dreamlike. Heath controlled billions in assets and could bend the tides of the city with a single move. Yet, the one person he had no patience for was Veronica. Six years had passed, and Heath remained as distant and indifferent as ever. Even the rare moments of gentleness in his gaze carried a quiet detachment beneath the surface. For years, Veronica had tried everything to win him back. But standing there in that moment, for the first time, something inside her shifted. She was tired. Veronica didn¡¯t call him back. She drifted into a heavy, dreamless sleep. The next morning, Heath finally sent a message. ¡°Sorry. Happy third anniversary.¡± A momentter came another line. ¡°This ispensation.¡± Momentster, a bank notification popped up¨Can eight¨Cfigure transfer. She scrolled through the messages, her fingers barely steady. Right then, an Instagram post from Eleanor appeared on her screen. ¡°A one¨Cof¨Ca¨Ckind diamond ring, custom¨Cdesigned in Phoburn over eight months. Thank you, Heath.¡± In the photo, Eleanor smiled sweetly. A sparkling diamond ring glinted on her fair hand. She stood beneath an iconic tower in a rose¨Cred gown, the silk drifting around her like a dream woven from wealth and desire. The thought and care behind it were impossible to ignore. Veronica suddenly remembered a moment from before she married Heath. Back in the Tate residence, he had walked past the corridor quietly and somberly, his expression unreadable. But his eyes, cold and steady, had seen straight through her. He had said, ¡°I¡¯ll marry you. But that¡¯s all.¡± Back then, she thought it was dramatic¨Cthis idea that wanting love instead of money was childish and sentimental. But now, for the first time, it felt painfully real. She had spent six years clinging to a fantasy. All she ever wanted was Heath¡¯s love, but he had never once given it to her. Veronica swallowed down the storm building in her chest and quietly made her way downstairs. In the garden below, she heard Miriam¡¯s voice¨Clight and innocent, yet with a tinge ofint. ¡°Why did Mom have toe back? Ms. Turner said she¡¯d take us to see the dancing bears at the music hall today. If Mom just never came back, that would¡¯ve been better¡­¡± Samuel added, his tone downcast, ¡°Yeah. Dad definitely likes Mr. Turner more. Mr. Woodward said Dad only married Mom because he couldn¡¯t marry Ms. Turner. Mom is pretty, but I still like Ms. Turner more.¡± The words sliced clean through Veronica, leaving a dull, rising ache behind. Heath had married her not out of love, but because he couldn¡¯t marry Eleanor. She stood frozen, disbelief washing over her, and numbness quickly gave way to a hollow kind of confusion. Her gaze shifted slowly to the two children in the garden. She had nearly died giving birth to them¨Cthere was emergency surgery, massive blood loss, and weeks of recovery. They were born frail, and she had cared for them without rest, day and night. The exhaustion left her with a chronic illness. Heathter returned to the city with the children when things went wrong in Shalton and when his grandfather, Reynard Tate, fell ill. Since then, Veronica had been traveling back and forth between Jouver and Shalton. Yet each time she came home, the gap between her and the children had grown wider. Veronica wasn¡¯t sure when she had returned to the bedroom. The twins had a private lesson that afternoon, and Elsie had already taken them out. Even with everything weighing on her, Veronica still found time to reach out to Heath again. She was his wife, after all. Whether it was about the children or Eleanor, she had every reason to ask for answers. But all she got in return was a short dismissal. ¡°Something urgent came up. Let¡¯s talk tomorrow night.¡± A quiet bitterness rose in her throat, impossible to ignore. She left the house and, almost without realizing it, found herself driving toward the chapel where she had first met Heath. The chapel was small, tucked in one of Shalton¡¯s oldest districts. Just as she stepped past the arched stone gate, a soft, familiar voice reached her ears. Miriam asked, ¡± Ms. Turner, is it really true? Your prayers always work?¡± ¡°Of course they do.¡± Veronica lifted her gaze. Not far from where she stood, Eleanor and Heath were each holding one of the children¡¯s hands. They looked like a perfect family of four, kneeling together in quiet reverence beneath the chapel spire. im Bonus For Free Every Day>> im Chapter 2 Dangerous 3 The next second, Heath ended the call. As he stood before the towering windows of his Shalton penthouse, his striking features tightened with faint displeasure. He nced down at his newly reced phone but didn¡¯t dial the number listed at the top of his contacts. The old phone, along with the SIM card, had been shattered at the chapel that day. He had initially nned to inform Veronica. After all, she was still his wife. But over the past few years, he had given her more than enough lenience. Perhaps she had started to grow a sense of entitlement from it. Maybe it was time she learned what it meant to be ignored. Veronica remained unaware of Heath¡¯s thoughts. After a peaceful night¡¯s sleep, she returned to Tate Group and handed in her resignation. The process went smoothly. When Heath gave her the position, it had only ever been a nominal role. No one in thepany even knew she was his wife. As long as the handover waspleted, she could leave without a ripple. When the news got out, one of her colleagues remarked, ¡°You¡¯re quitting for your kids, aren¡¯t you? They¡¯re our or five¨Cat that age, they¡¯re super clingy. You always kept their photos on your desk. Even your e had little charms shaped like their faces.¡± ca paused. had loved Heath deeply, and because of that love, she cherished Miriam and Samuel just as much. Even from miles away, she had always cared about Miriam and Samuel. But now¡­ She shook her head and smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s not because of them.¡± Veronica meant what she said. Tate Group was massive and had an international reach, but it dealt in construction materials and real estate, fields she was never passionate about. She hadn¡¯t taken the job out of passion¨Cit was duty, in and simple. As Heath¡¯s wife, she had felt obligated to stay behind and look after his parents. Now that she was walking away from the marriage, it was time to find work that truly suited her. She lowered her gaze and caught a brief sh on her phone. It was a banner ad for the ¡°Cultural Aesthetic Expo¨CAn Ode to Scent and Artisan Craft¡± exhibition. The event featured fragrance blending, tea brewing, and a showcase of neo¨CCinderone style design. Something about it sparked her curiosity. Not long after, she sent a message to her cousin, Calvin Dolton. ¡°Can you help me get a ticket for this event?¡± Calvin replied within seconds. ¡°Of course. But aren¡¯t you always busy? Between looking after Heath¡¯s parents and the twins, do you even have the time?¡± Veronica hesitated briefly, then typed calmly. ¡°I do. I¡¯m divorced.¡± There was a pause before Calvin replied, ¡°Wait, seriously? You really divorced him? The Tates?¡± He sucked in a sharp breath. They were the kind of family who could afford to build an entire private yground in the heart of Shalton -just for Miriam and Samuel, with no one else allowed in. Back then, Veronica had been an orphan, as her parents passed when she was still in college. The Tates only agreed to the marriage because her grandfather had once done the family a favor they couldn¡¯t forget. Otherwise, they never would have let Heath marry a professor¡¯s daughter. Even if her grandfather, Malcolm Dolton, was a renowned schr in Mycenarian Studies and one of the most respected names in the field, it wouldn¡¯t have made a difference. ¡°It didn¡¯t sit right with me anymore, so I walked away,¡± Veronica replied with a smile. Calvin couldn¡¯t tell whether he felt regret or approval at the situation. All he could manage was a sigh. ¡°But ¡­ can you really walk away from Miriam and Samuel?¡± Veronica nced at her phone. After the children moved back to Shalton, she had gotten them both phones just in case they missed her and needed to talk. But over the past year, they never reached out unless she called them first. They had a powerful family background and a new woman they already saw as their mother, so there was no reason for her to hold on just because they shared blood. Back in Shalton, at the Tate residence, the nutritionist Amber Greene offered a kind reminder. ¡°Samuel, Miriam, did you forget what your mom told you? No picky eating, remember? Your bodies need proper nutrition and a bnced intake of fat to grow strong. You shouldn¡¯t have too many sweets.¡± Samuel hesitated at the mention of their mother. However, Miriam didn¡¯t care at all. ¡°She¡¯s past her call time already. She won¡¯t even know. ¡°Besides, Ms. Turner said we¡¯re just kids, and kids are supposed to be happy! And right now, nothing makes me happier than eating all these cupcakes.¡± Just as she finished, Eleanor¡¯s lightugh echoed from upstairs. Eleanor came over to the children, gently tapping Miriam¡¯s forehead with a smile. ¡°You little rascal. Fine. If cupcakes make you two happy, then have as many as you want.¡± ¡°Yay! Ms. Turner, you¡¯re the best! I wish you could live with us forever.¡± Their innocent cheers brought a soft smile to Eleanor¡¯s lips. Amber frowned slightly. She was just about to speak, but when her eyesnded on Eleanor, she quietly held her tongue. She had assumed initially that Veronica was thedy of the house, but Eleanor moved through the house like she owned it, and the kids clearly adored her. If she spoke up now, she risked offending the wrong person. And if Heath found out, it might not end well for her. However, Samuel felt uneasy. Thest time he ignored his mother¡¯s advice, he ended up sick in bed for days. He liked Eleanor. She was kind to him, and he really did love having her around. But Veronica had warned him if he ate like that again, he would get really sick, and both she and Heath would worry. ant to make them worry, not just for a few sweets. It uneasy, so he was careful with what he ate. e other hand, Miriam devoured her desserts. That night, she ended up with a terrible stomachache er eating far too many frosted cupcakes. She curled up on her bed, trembling from the pain, while her face twisted in difort. The paleness of her cheeks made her look even more fragile as the cramps took over. Heath rushed home the moment he heard Miriam wasn¡¯t feeling well. Miriam tugged pitifully at the hem of his coat, her voice choked with guilt. ¡°Dad, is it because I was bad that Mom made my tummy hurt? She said if I ate too many cupcakes again, I¡¯d get cured by a witch. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to! I want Mom toe back and break the spell¡­¡± What upset Miriam even more was that, whenever she felt unwell, Veronica would always make her warm and soothing soup. Tears and snot streamed down her face as she cried. Eleanor stood nearby, biting her lip. In a remorseful tone, she said, ¡°It¡¯s my fault, Heath. I should¡¯ve kept a closer eye on her. I didn¡¯t realize she¡¯d eaten so many cupcakes.¡± Miriam pouted, worried Heath would me Eleanor. She quickly jumped in to defend her. ¡°Dad, it¡¯s not Ms. Turner¡¯s fault. Mom forgot to call me and remind me! Mom doesn¡¯t care about me anymore¡­¡± Samuel blinked slowly, confused. He remembered how sick he had gotten thest time he hadn¡¯t listened to Veronica. After that, he made sure to follow her advice. Even if Veronica couldn¡¯tpete with Eleanor in every way, she always cared deeply about everything that concerned them. Still, after thinking of how kind Eleanor had been to himtely, he couldn¡¯t help but speak up too. ¡°Dad, Mom used to remind us about this stuff. Miriam¡¯s still little, so she forgets things. That¡¯s not her fault.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± Heath said, his voice turning stern. ¡°From now on, both of you need to listen to Ms. Greene. No more overeating.¡± He didn¡¯t me Eleanor at all. If anything, his frustration was directed at Veronica. She used to be the one who reminded Miriam about what to eat. If Veronica hadn¡¯t ignored them this time, Miriam wouldn¡¯t have gotten sick. Just because she was upset with him, she had started ignoring the kids and hadn¡¯t even bothered to check in. That was uneptable. Enjoy Ad¨CFree Reading>> Dangerous 4 hapter 4 Veronica had no idea Miriam had fallen ill. Still, on Sunday, she found herself thinking of Miriam and Samuel and decided to video call them. No matter what, she was still their mother. Even if there was no deep emotional bond left, she still had a responsibility toward them. When the call came through, Miriam and Samuel were helping Eleanor try on evening gowns. In just a few days, Reynard would be discharged from the hospital. After that, Heath was expected to return to Jouver to continue expanding Tate Group¡¯s business. The idea of leaving Shalton left the kids visibly downcast. They weren¡¯t eager to see their mother, and they especially didn¡¯t want to be separated from Eleanor. Upon noticing their low spirits, Eleanor ruffled their hair with a yful smile. ¡°Let me guess why Mr. Tate and Ms. Tate look so gloomy¡­¡± She paused and said with mock seriousness, ¡°Is it because you¡¯re heading back to Jouver? I thought you¡¯d be excited to see your mom again.¡± Miriam¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. She pouted and muttered, ¡°What¡¯s so great about seeing Mom? I don¡¯t want to leave you, Ms. Turner.¡± Samuel nodded in agreement. He did miss Veronica a little, but the thought of being away from Eleanor was worse. Eleanor chuckled and leaned in. ¡°Well then, how about I tell you a little secret¡­¡± She waited a beat, then smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve got some work to take care of in Jouver, so I¡¯ll be staying there for a while. This time, I¡¯ming with you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Miriam lit up with excitement. If Eleanor came with them, she could see her every day. Just then, Veronica¡¯s video call came through again. The ringtone echoed through the room. Miriam stared at the screen, let it ring out, then tapped to decline. Veronica called several times in a row. Eventually, Miriam grew impatient and blocked her number. Eleanor didn¡¯t scold her. Instead, she tapped her lightly on the forehead with a smile. ¡°Miriam, why didn¡¯t you answer your mom¡¯s call?¡± Miriam pouted. ¡°Because she didn¡¯t call me when I was sick. It was her fault I got a stomachache. She¡¯s mean. I don¡¯t want to talk to her.¡± After all, they would be back in Jouver in a couple of days. There would be plenty of time to see her then. But if Veronica knew Eleanor would be moving in, she would probably get upset. Miriam didn¡¯t want anything or anyone interfering with her time with Eleanor. Eleanor pinched her cheek lightly and smiled. ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Samuel had his doubts. He didn¡¯t think it was right to ignore their mother like this. But when he looked at Eleanor¡¯s expression, he held his tongue. Heath always said Eleanor was different¨Csmart, kind, and unlike any other woman. Since Eleanor hadn¡¯t said Miriam had done anything wrong, Samuel figured it couldn¡¯t have been that serious. Besides, they would be going back to Jouver soon, and they would see Veronica then. Meanwhile, back in Jouver, Veronica stared at the message she had just sent. A single gray checkmark sat beneath it. She was momentarily stunned. She had given this phone to the twins specifically so she could reach them. Neither child ever let anyone else touch it. She knew the bond had faded since they left for Shalton, but she had never imagined they would block her. Still uneasy, Veronica called Elsie at the Tate residence. Elsie replied, ¡°Mrs. Tate, the twins are doing just fine. Ms. Turner¡¯s been looking after them well. They¡¯re with her right now, helping her try on dresses.¡± Hearing Eleanor¡¯s name sent a dull ache through Veronica¡¯s chest. Those were the children she had nearly died giving birth to, yet now they clung to another woman instead. ¡°As long as they¡¯re okay,¡± she said softly. She didn¡¯t mention being blocked. She understood their tempers¨Cthe twins had always been spoiled, and acting out like this wasn¡¯t unusual. If it had been in the past, she would have kept calling until they picked up. But now¡­ something in her had changed. Knowing they were safe was enough. Whether or not they still saw her as their mother wasn¡¯t something she could control anymore. Two dayster, Reynard was discharged from the hospital. Heath quickly decided to return to Jouver and resume expanding Tate Group¡¯s business empire. Before leaving, Miriam and Samuel said goodbye to their friends at school. Eleanor had prepared little gifts for them to hand out. However, the children who received them looked a little disappointed. ¡°These dolls and toy cars are kind of old¨Cfashioned. I really liked those teddy bear cupcakes your mom madest time. Why didn¡¯t you bring those?¡± one little girl mumbled with a pout. Miriam pursed her lips together. Veronica had personally baked those cupcakes. They wereplicated to bake and took a lot of time. More than once, Veronica had burned her hands making them. But Eleanor didn¡¯t know how to make them. In that moment, Miriam thought it would¡¯ve been nice if Veronica were here. Samuel looked down, too. Ever since Miriam had blocked their mother¡¯s number, Veronica hadn¡¯t called again. He hadn¡¯t heard her voice in what felt like forever, and he missed her. Still, they would be seeing her again soon. With Veronica around, he knew they wouldn¡¯t get to see Eleanor as often anymore. Heath had no idea what was on Miriam and Samuel¡¯s minds. When news spread that he was returning to Jouver, Derick gave him a quick call. ¡°Mr. Tate, Mrs. Tate hasn¡¯t returned to the estate in over a week. Do you want me to inform her you¡¯ll be back?¡± Heath frowned. After a moment, his expression cooled. ¡°No need. If she doesn¡¯t n toe back, then clear out Hillside Vi. Eleanor and the kids will be staying there with me.¡± In the past, he only returned because the residence was there. But if Veronica insisted on keeping her distance, there was no reason for her to return to that house either. Back in Jouver, Veronica had moved into her old apartment. She had even started nting a few flowers on the balcony. She wasn¡¯t particrly skilled at gardening. Still, with the weight of a failed marriage off her shoulders, her whole demeanor had lightened. Her elderly neighbor next door, Vernon Fletcher, often scolded her for overwatering her nts. ¡°Miss, you¡¯ve got no idea how to care for flowers. Keep watering like that, and you¡¯ll drown everyst one.¡± He would take over the watering can with a frown, but Veronica never took offense at his words. Their neighbor had once exined Vernon¡¯s temper. ¡°Don¡¯t take it personally. His grandson refuses to settle down. They had a big blow¨Cup, and he stormed out of the family residence. That¡¯s why he ran off to stay here for a while.¡± Veronica just smiled and brushed it off. Back when she was married into the Tate family, everything was rigid and controlled. She had spent years walking on eggshells around the Tates. She was always careful with her words and actions to avoid stepping out of line. Vernon might be grumpy and stubborn, but he turned out to be surprisingly helpful. With his guidance, tending to the flowers became much easier. Over time, despite their age difference, an unlikely friendship began to form between them. That evening, Veronica received an invitation from her senior at Cresthill College. When Courtney Powell heard Veronica would be attending the Cultural Aesthetic Expo, she immediately insisted on going with her. Back in college, Veronica had majored in design. She was clever, unique, and full of wild ideas. During college, she had even worked anonymously under the alias ¡°Smile¡± in Courtney¡¯s studio. Many of her early works had beenuded for their brilliance. But after getting married, she stepped back from the scene entirely. Meanwhile, Courtney had ridden that momentum to fame and sess. It was no surprise that she would be invited to the event. Courtney was already at the center of attention and making her way through clusters of designers, curators, and sponsors when Veronica arrived. Over the years, she had established a notable reputation in the industry and garnered increasing recognition. Many people eagerly approached her, hoping to make a connection. A woman always shone the brightest when she found sess. Even the men around her became nothing more than background figures or fleeting decoration. Veronica lowered her eyes as she watched the scene unfold. All these years, she had been devoted to Heath, Miriam, and Samuel. Somewhere along the way, she had forgotten who she was before any of it began. So much time had passed since then that she wondered if she could still be that same bold, visionary designer she once was. Just as the thought settled, Courtney walked over to her. ¡°This year¡¯s Cultural Aesthetic Expo is massive. Many rising stars in design attended. Watching them tonight reminded me of who you were back then. I really wanted to keep you on at Novaro Design back then, but unfortunately¡­¡± Novaro Design was the design studio Courtney founded during college and was the seed that eventually grew into her thrivingpany. Veronica gave a faint, bittersweet smile. ¡°Novaro Design¡¯s doing just fine without me.¡± Design had always been a field where talent burned fast and bright, and no one remained at the top forever. Besides, she hadn¡¯t touched a sketchpad in years. ¡°I don¡¯t agree,¡± Courtney said. Courtney took a long drag from her cigarette, then curved her lips into a knowing smile. ¡°Sure, Novaro Design runs fine without you. But the design world without you? That¡¯s a real loss. ¡°Bold and sharp women like you should never be held back by anything, or anyone.¡± Dangerous 5 Chapter 5 Veronica lifted her gaze at the sound of Courtney¡¯s voice, hershes fluttering as she stared at the work disyed across the exhibit. Courtney raised a brow and spoke with purpose. ¡°Fletcher Group has been making major moves these past couple of years after heavily investing in neo¨CCinderone design. From jewelry to fashion, they¡¯ve been locking in partnerships across the board. ¡°And that just happens to be your specialty. Veronica, it¡¯s time. Come back.¡± Veronica was no stranger to Fletcher Group. They had expanded rapidly in the past few years, especially in manufacturing and design innovation. Their CEO, Noah Fletcher, was young. However, he was known for being ruthlessly efficient and having a sharp, far¨Creaching vision. It didn¡¯t surprise Veronica that Courtney wanted to work with them. Fletcher Group¡¯s vision aligned perfectly with the rising neo¨CCinderone aesthetic Courtney had long pursued. But¡­ she wondered if she could truly return to the path she once walked as a designer. As Veronica stood lost in thought, a cold, condescending voice rang out behind her. ¡°Veronica? Shouldn¡¯t you be home taking care of Mom? What are you even doing here?¡± It was Olivia Tate, Heath¡¯s younger sister, and a rising star from Cresthill College. From the day Veronica married into the Tate family, Olivia had treated her with thinly veiled disdain. She had always looked down on women like Veronica¨Cthose who leaned on men and devoted themselves to family life. In her opinion, they brought little else to the table. Veronica hadn¡¯t expected to run into her here. She didn¡¯t bother exining much. ¡°Just browsing,¡± she said simply. Olivia scoffed, her tone sharp. ¡°The pieces in this exhibition hold significant artistic value. Even the most basic designs aren¡¯t something you¡¯d understand. Heath, Miriam, and Samuel areing back soon. You should focus on them, not waste time here.¡± Veronica might have had a decent education and some design talent before marrying into the Tate family, but to Olivia, she had always been just another nobody who happened tond a wealthy husband. Veronica had polished her image, stepped into privilege, and locked herself into a golden cage¨Cthat didn¡¯t mean she had any real substance or skill. Veronica stood frozen for a second. Was Heathing back? Her fingers curled slightly, and a dull ache pressed in her chest. Even if they were divorcing, he hadn¡¯t even bothered to inform her that he was bringing the children back. She was still their mother, but clearly, that didn¡¯t count for much in his mind anymore. Olivia, feeling she had said enough, was about to walk away. But then she suddenly remembered something¨Cher mother had been asking about that trout stew Veronica used to make. She added offhandedly, ¡°By the way, if you¡¯ve got time, make that trout stew Mom likes. It¡¯s not like you¡¯re busy. Cooking¡¯s the only thing you¡¯re halfway decent at anyway.¡± In the past, Veronica would have agreed without hesitation. After all, she had once gone to great lengths to win the Tate family¡¯s approval. No matter how borate the dish, if Regina asked, she would make it. But things were different now. Veronica no longer cared to prove herself to anyone. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve got my own work to handle. If it¡¯s just food, I¡¯m sure the chef can handle it,¡± Veronica replied calmly. Olivia¡¯s brows tightened, clearly displeased. This was the first time Veronica had ever refused her. What could Veronica possibly be busy with? Someone approached Olivia from the side, having caught the tail end of her conversation with Veronica.¡± Olivia, who was that woman you were talking to?¡± Olivia¡¯s brows twitched slightly. She replied with casual disinterest, ¡°Just some acquaintance. She¡¯s not worth paying attention to.¡± A bitter flicker crossed Veronica¡¯s eyes. She was Olivia¡¯s sister¨Cinw in name, but neither Heath nor Olivia had ever treated her like family. She had given everything of herself to the Tate family, only to be treated as less than a maid. After Olivia finally walked away, Veronica turned to Courtney. Her voice was calm but firm as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll think about what you said. It¡¯s just¡­ I haven¡¯t touched design in a long time. I hope I won¡¯t let you down.¡± Courtney finally rxed. Her tone lightened with a teasing smirk. ¡°Come on. You used to be ¡®Smile¡®¨Cthe one everyone in the industry remembered.¡± A rare glimmer of amusement softened Veronica¡¯s expression. She hadin low for so long. Perhaps it was finally time to reim her path. That evening, Heath flew back to Jouver with Miriam, Samuel, and Eleanor. Afternding, he took the children to the Tate residence first. Regina couldn¡¯t help but start ¡°It¡¯s been a week and she still hasn¡¯t eating well, and I haven¡¯t been sleeping well either. Even my skin¡¯s lost its glow.¡± She had grown used to Veronica¡¯s care. When Veronica was around, even her pillows were scented with herbal oils to help her sleep. Even her meals had always been tailored perfectly. But ever since Veronica returned from Shalton, she hadn¡¯t shown up even once. Heath didn¡¯t think much of it. He gently soothed Regina. ¡°I¡¯ll hire a few new people for you. It¡¯ll be the same.¡± ¡°The same?¡± Regina frowned, displeased. There was noparison¨Ctheir standards were entirely different from Veronica¡¯s. All Veronica had ever been good at was looking after others¨Cyet when it came to her own mother¨Cinw, there was never any real affection. Still, Regina had been raised in old¨Cmoney Shalton society. She wouldn¡¯t stoop to saying anything too harsh, no matter how displeased she felt. In the end, she didn¡¯t argue with her son. She only gave a small nod. Later, they returned to the Hillside Vi. Just like Derick had said, Veronica had cleared out everything that belonged to her. Even the children¡¯s rooms, once warm and cozy, now felt sterile and empty. Heath didn¡¯t dwell on it. If Veronica wanted to make a scene, so be it. He figured she was likely expecting him to lower his pride and coax her back, but that was never going to happen. Meanwhile, Samuel looked visibly disheartened. It had been so long since he hadst seen his mother. He guessed that she was upset. Ever since Miriam had blocked Veronica¡¯s number, Veronica hadn¡¯t even tried to reach out with a new number. While he was lost in thought, Miriam excitedly tugged on Eleanor¡¯s hand and turned to Heath. ¡°Dad, can Ms. Turner stay in Mom¡¯s room? She needs more sunlight for her health, and that¡¯s the brightest room in the house. Anyway, Mom¡¯s moved out already.¡± Apart from the master bedroom and the children¡¯s room, the only space left with natural light and warmth was the guest room, where Veronica used to stay. Chapter 6 Dangerous 6 Chapter 6 Heath swept his gaze around the room, and his dark eyes narrowed slightly. The room had been cleared out almost too thoroughly. He wondered how long Veronica could keep up the act. He didn¡¯t respond to Miriam¡¯s question right away. Eleanor gently held Miriam¡¯s hand. Her voice was soft and considerate as she said, ¡°Thanks, Mira. But it¡¯s okay. I don¡¯t mind where I stay. If Veronica gets upset about it, I don¡¯t mind moving out.¡± As she finished speaking, she smiled lightly, with a perfectly measured trace of sadness on her face. ¡°No!¡± Samuel shouted. ¡°You can¡¯t!¡± Miriam echoed. Their voices rang out simultaneously, anxious and loud. Samuel scrunched his face up. He missed his mother, but he had no idea when she might return. On the other hand, Eleanor had juste back, so it probably wouldn¡¯t matter if she stayed in Veronica¡¯s room for a while. ¡°Ms. Turner, you have to stay! Mom¡¯s the mean one. She¡¯s the one who should¡¯ve left,¡± Miriam insisted. At the mention of Veronica, Miriam¡¯s expression turned pouty with irritation. She didn¡¯t understand why her mother had left, or why she was being so annoying now. She tugged at Heath¡¯s hand, pleading, ¡°Dad, that room was always meant for Ms. Turner anyway. Come on, say something. You love her the most, don¡¯t you?¡± Eleanor¡¯s ears flushed a delicate pink. She gave a small, bashful smile and quickly covered Miriam¡¯s mouth with her hand. ¡°Mira, don¡¯t say that¡­ If it really doesn¡¯t work out, I can just share your room.¡± ¡°No,¡± Heath cut her off firmly with a frown. ¡°You¡¯re not here to crowd in with the kids or take on babysitting duties.¡± Eleanor looked up. Her eyes glistened as she nced at him with gentle resolve. She whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t mind¡­ really.¡± Something flickered in Heath¡¯s expression. For a brief second, he thought he saw the young girl she used to be. Without thinking, he reached out to ruffle her hair. ¡°It¡¯s just a room. Stay there.¡± At worst, if Veronica came crawling back, he could let her share his room. He scoffed inwardly. Veronica hardly deserved that much. And so, Heath¡¯s words were final. ¡°Yay!¡± Miriam squealed in delight, pulling both their hands as she bounced between them. She wished Veronica would just stay gone forever. But then she paused, and her excitement briefly dampened. Veronica was likely to return and disrupt their peaceful life again, as she always did. Miriam had even blocked her number yesterday, so there were probably tons of missed calls by now. Miriam pulled out her phone and opened her blocked contacts list smugly. She scrolled down to the call log, already familiar with the routine. Aside from the few attempts Veronica had made right after being blocked, the screen now sat empty¨Cno new calls, no voicemails, nothing. Her eyes widened, and a strange unease crawled up her spine. Veronica hadn¡¯t even called once. Eleanor noticed Miriam staring at the screen. She gently squeezed Miriam¡¯s hand and said with a smile, Come on, let¡¯s grab dinner. Later, I¡¯ll help you and Samuel finish that puzzle.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best, Ms. Turner!¡± Miriam beamed and quickly locked her phone screen, brushing off the unease. If Veronica didn¡¯t want to call, then fine. She didn¡¯t care. She had Eleanor now¨Cand that was more than enough. At 8:00 pm, rain drizzled softly over Jouver. The Cultural Aesthetic Expo was winding down when Courtney¡¯s studio suddenly had an emergency, so she left early. Veronica said her goodbyes and stayed behind to explore the exhibition on her own. During the event, she exchanged contacts with several rising talents in the industry, gaining valuable connections. After being away from the industry for so many years, she was surprised to find her passion still burning fiercely. The conversations she had, spanning a wide range of topics from all over the world, stirred something in her that had been quiet for years. Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t toote for a fresh start. Because only pre¨Cregistered vehicles were allowed into the venue, Veronica waited outside for her ride after the event ended. A ck SUV rolled to a stop beside her, and the window lowered smoothly. ¡°Ms. Dolton, the rain¡¯s picking
  1. up. Need a ride?¡±
Veronica looked up to meet Lionel Shortle¡¯s kind gaze. He was one of the gentlemen she had just connected with. Lionel was a master woodcarver and was renowned for preserving traditional craftsmanship. Veronica smiled. She was about to politely decline when a sharp, mocking female voice cut through the air. ¡°Oh, Veronica, I was wondering why you weren¡¯t at home taking care of Mom. Looks like your heart¡¯s somewhere else! Secretly seeing men behind Heath¡¯s back, huh?¡± Veronica frowned and turned toward Olivia. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.¡± Olivia sneered, her gaze sliding pointedly toward Lionel inside the car. ¡°Busy, huh? Since leaving Heath, your taste seems to have gone downhill fast.¡± Rumors had long passed around that Veronica drugged Heath and seduced him. Heath had covered for her to maintain appearances and even married her because she was pregnant, leaving Eleanor in a difficult position. Yet now, only a few yearster, Veronica was openly seeing others. Olivia found such behavior utterly repugnant. Olivia¡¯s expression twisted with contempt. ¡°Veronica, don¡¯t forget your ce. If Miriam and Samuel ever found out about this, do you really think they¡¯d still call you their mother? ¡°You¡¯ve already hurt my brother enough. Stop embarrassing our family! If you¡¯re looking for other men, then get a divorce sooner rather thanter.¡± Veronica blinked rapidly as bitterness crept in. Since marrying into the Tate family, she had beenbeled scandalous and forced to cut ties with her old life. She was aware of the whispers about her being an opportunist and a homewrecker. But that night, she had unknowingly drunk that drugged drink. Just as she was about to call for help, Heath held her tightly, his body burning against hers. His promise to ¡°take responsibility¡± had sealed that reckless night and the six years that followed¨Can endless exile disguised as marriage. His ¡°responsibility¡± was a binding contract that trapped her as ¡°Mrs. Tate¡°. Yet, through all those years, she foolishly endured it all. Veronica bitterly mocked herself and finally said, ¡°I¡¯m already divorced.¡± Olivia¡¯s eyes shed with surprise, then quickly turned to disbelief. ¡°You¡¯d better be.¡± Veronica was nothing more than a frail, clingy woman, yet she actually had the nerve to ask Heath for a divorce. What aplete joke. If that day ever came, Olivia would be willing to dance naked all night on Elmbridge Avenue. Without another word, Olivia climbed into her own car and drove away. Veronica turned her head slightly, forcing a polite smile at Lionel. ¡°Sorry to cause you any trouble, Mr. Shortle.¡± ¡°No need to me yourself, Ms. Dolton. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s been some misunderstanding,¡± Lionel said kindly, nodding in reassurance. He didn¡¯t press further and only left after confirming her ride had arrived. After getting caught in the wind and rain, Veronica felt a sharp headache as soon as she got into the car. Her cold from a few weeks ago hadn¡¯t fully cleared, leaving her shivering and pale. ¡°Miss, are you okay? Should I take you to the hospital?¡± the driver asked, concern rising in his voice as he pressed the gas pedal harder. Veronica held her phone, staring nkly at the screen. On her Instagram feed, Miriam had unexpectedly removed her from the blocklist and posted a rare photo. In the picture, Eleanor held the children with a bright smile. Behind them, Heath looked at her with nothing but gentle affection. What stood out most were the matching bear¨Cthemed family pajamas they all wore. Those pajamas were the only design Veronica had personally created for her family since stepping away from the industry. She had painstakingly adjusted every stitch hundreds of times. But when she excitedly showed the pajamas to Miriam and Samuel, they rejected them outright. Samuel had scoffed. ¡°Mom, that¡¯s so childish. I¡¯m not wearing those pajamas.¡± ¡°They¡¯re ugly, Mom. I won¡¯t wear them.¡± Miriam burst into tears. Veronica tried coaxing them to try on the pajamas, but Miriam cried even harder. When Heath got home, Miriam tearfullyined to him. Heath gave the pajamas a cold nce from the hanger and snapped, ¡°Veronica, how old do you think you are?¡± Now, Heath and the children wore the very pajamas they had once scorned¨Cand so did another woman. Chapter 7 Dangerous 7 Chapter 7 A sharp pain stabbed through Veronica¡¯s chest, making it hard to breathe. Her fingers, cold and numb, barely managed to dial Miriam¡¯s number. She didn¡¯t want to argue¨Cshe just needed to ask what was going on. On the other end of the call, Miriam was cuddled up next to Eleanor, snapping a few selfies while holding a plush doll. When she saw the caller ID, her delicate brows twitched slightly with visible irritation. The phone rang for a while before Eleanor gently reminded her, ¡°Mira, your mom is calling. Aren¡¯t you going to answer?¡± Miriam shook her head. ¡°She¡¯s so annoying. If I pick up, she¡¯ll just ask a million questions again. I don¡¯t want to deal with it.¡± Without hesitation, she declined the call. Then, she turned to Samuel andined, ¡°Told you we never should¡¯ve taken her off the blocklist. It¡¯s only been one night, and she¡¯s already calling nonstop. What are you even scared of?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not scared. I just thought maybe she forgot to tell us something important. You¡¯re the one who unblocked her,¡± Samuel shot back, his voice was tight with frustration. He thought his mother could have at least waited before calling again¨Cshe was really making him look bad. Miriam pouted. ¡°She never forgets anything. Once she starts talking, she just keeps going. It¡¯s exhausting.¡± For thest three months, while they had stayed in Shalton, Veronica had called them twice a day without fail¨Conce around breakfast and once before dinner. Each time, she spent nearly an hour going over their meals, sleep, and clothes. Initially, after leaving their mother, the two of them were still somewhat clingy, They made their calls right on schedule every single day. But after a while, with Eleanor around and new friends to distract them, they got less eager. What started as two daily calls slowly dropped to one. Eventually, each conversationsted less than ten minutes before the kids found excuses to hang up. In the past couple of days, they had gone so far as to block her entirely. Veronica stared at the phone in her hand as the screen dimmed. The small flicker of hope she had been holding onto slowly died with it. She didn¡¯t even know what she had been clinging to anymore. Then suddenly, she doubled over, wracked by a fit of coughing that left flecks of blood on her palm. The driver saw her through the rearview mirror and panicked. He mmed his foot down and rushed her to the nearest hospital. Back at Hillside Vi, Samuel watched as Miriam finally finished posing with Eleanor and her doll. While pulling awkwardly at the sleeve of his pajamas, he muttered, ¡°Mira, can you take one of me too?¡± When Veronica first made these pajamas, he had actually liked them. But because the bear pattern was too childish, he acted like he hated them. Now, because of Eleanor, he finally got to wear them before he outgrew them. She had evenplimented him earlier. ¡°Sam, you don¡¯t always have to y the tough guy. Sometimes it¡¯s okay just to be cute.¡± He blushed to hear that. ¡°Ms. Turner, if you like it, I can wear it every day.¡± The pajamas weren¡¯t just cute. They were soft, cozy, and the fabric felt like wearing a cloud. In fact, when Veronica wasn¡¯t nagging, she did make some amazing clothes. He figured he could take a quick picture¨Cjust this once¨Cand send it to her. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? Ms. Turner just stepped out to grab some milk,¡± Miriam huffed, clearly annoyed. Samuel opened his mouth to exin, but stopped. Miriam had misunderstood him. It wasn¡¯t that he wanted a photo with Eleanor. They already had plenty. He just¡­ wanted to send one to Veronica. ¡°What¡¯s all the whispering about, Mira, Sam?¡± Eleanor¡¯s gentle voice rang out behind them. Samuel suddenly felt a twinge of guilt. He spun around in a hurry, only to crash right into Eleanor. Eleanor let out a soft gasp. The warm milk in her hand spilled straight down the front of Samuel¡¯s pajamas. The once¨Ccute little bear print was now stained and soaked. Miriam let out a shriek of her own, then scolded sharply, ¡°Samuel, how could you be so careless? Say sorry to Ms. Turner.¡± Samuel stared at his soaked pajamas, and a quiet sense of frustration rose in his throat. Even so, he dropped his gaze and muttered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Turner.¡± Eleanor caught the flicker of emotion on his face¨Cnot guilt, but disappointment. Her eyes gleamed for a moment. So, Samuel cared about the pajamas. She gently tousled Samuel¡¯s hair, her voice soft and soothing. ¡°Sam, I should be the one apologizing. I startled you, didn¡¯t I?¡± Samuel blinked in surprise and shook his head. ¡°No, it was my fault.¡± Eleanor smiled warmly and took the me anyway. ¡°I came in without knocking. My bad. How about I get you the new limited¨Cedition Ultrabot pajamas as an apology? Would that make it up to you?¡± Samuel¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Really?¡± All the boys in his ss had some kind of Ultrabot shirt, and he had always wanted one. But Veronica insisted those clothes were made with cheap dye and were full of germs. She refused to let him wear any of them. He always thought that was just an excuse to control what they wore. Eleanor pinched his nose yfully. ¡°Of course, when have I ever lied to you two? Now be a good boy and go change, or you¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± Samuel beamed and dashed off to change, tossing the ruined bear pajamas straight into the trash can. He didn¡¯t care about those childish clothes anymore¨Cat least, that was what he told himself. In the study upstairs, Heath powered up his old phone. There had been a piece of sensitivepany data stored in it that hadn¡¯t been backed up, so he had ?sked Walter to send it for repairs. Now with the SIM card reinserted, most of the old messages were gone. Thest message from Veronica still remained. ¡°Landing in Shalton at 10:00 pm today.¡± That same day, Eleanor had secured Lucas¡¯s exclusive luxury brand deal. Coincidentally, Tate Group had just entered negotiations for a ten¨Cyear partnership with that brand, and they had crossed paths at the g. He hadn¡¯t seen Veronica¡¯s message. Heath tugged at his tie with a frown. Was she really still upset over that? As the screen refreshed, three missed calls popped up in the log. One of them was an hour ago from Veronica. With a sigh, he dialed her back. But just as the call connected, two frantic voices echoed from downstairs. Meanwhile, at Jouver Medical Center, a nurse spoke into the phone. ¡°Hello? Is this the husband of Ms. Dolton? This is Jouver Medical Center. You¡¯re listed as the emergency contact on this patient¡¯s phone. Your wife has just been admitted in critical condition. Sir, we need you to The young nurse had been speaking for a while, but she got no response from the other end. She nced down, only to find the phone had died and shut off automatically. ¡°Dad! Something¡¯s wrong with Ms. Turner!¡± ¡°She¡¯s dying! Dad, please go help her.¡± Samuel and Miriam burst into the study, panic written all over their faces. ¡°What happened?¡± Heath narrowed his eyes as he stood up sharply and rushed toward the bedroom. Eleanor was lying on the bed, flushed from head to toe. Angry rashes were spreading quickly across her arms and neck. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and her voice trembled, barely above a whisper. ¡°Heath¡­ am I going to die?¡± Samuel spoke quickly, his words tumbling out in fear. ¡°Ms. Turner said her whole body started itching. She scratched wherever the pajamas touched, and these rashes just showed up!¡± Veronica had made the pajamas, and the thought that she might have intentionally harmed Eleanor was deeply unsettling. But Veronica couldn¡¯t have known Eleanor would even wear them. He tried to push the thought away, but Miriam blurted it out anyway. Heath¡¯s expression darkened. Earlier, Eleanor had realized she had forgotten to pack her own nightwear after arriving in Shalton. She had borrowed the set Veronica had left behind. The kids had noticed and begged to wear theirs too, dragging Heath into it. It was just sleepwear, so he hadn¡¯t thought twice about it. But no one expected it would lead to something like this. Heath¡¯s expression darkened as he dialed Veronica¡¯s number. The line connected for a second, then yed the automated message. ¡°The number you are trying to reach is currently unavable.¡± Her phone was off. Heath¡¯s jaw clenched, and his grip on the phone tightened. It seemed Veronica had blocked him. He thought he had allowed Veronica to get away with too much. Eleanor¡¯s breathing grew more strained, and her chest rose in shallow, gasping breaths. The kids were frantically pacing the room, too scared to cry. Without another word, Heath strode to the bed, leaned down, and swept her into his arms. ¡°Whatever mistake Veronica makes, I¡¯ll make sure you get justice,¡± he said through gritted teeth. Enjoy Ad¨CFree Reading>> Go Chapter 8 Dangerous 8 Chapter 8 Rain had battered the streets of Jouver all night long. At the hospital, the light above the operating room flickered on and off, casting a ghostly glow through the corridor. By dawn, Veronica finally managed to lift her heavy eyelids. Her body still radiated with fever and pain. ¡°Ms. Dolton, you have a viral infection. Luckily, you got here just in time. If you¡¯de anyter, it might¡¯ve turned into pneumonia. That could¡¯ve been life¨Cthreatening. ¡°We tried contacting your husband several timesst night. The calls didn¡¯t go through, then the phone died. You should let him know¨Cyour family must be worried sick.¡± A nurse who hade by to change Veronica¡¯s IV spoke softly at her bedside, handing her the fully charged phone. Veronica¡¯s expression didn¡¯t shift, but a hollow ache grew inside her. She forced a tired smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± When the whole family was wrapped in joy, Heath wouldn¡¯t spare a moment to answer her call. Veronica couldn¡¯t help but imagine that if she had actually died on that operating table, Heath probably wouldn¡¯t have felt a flicker of panic. It was Miriam and Samuel that she felt sorry for. In a world like theirs, growing up without a mother would only make everything harder. Veronica powered on her phone, surprised to see a missed call from Heath. At the same moment, her custom ringtone for Miriam broke the silence. Her expression softened, and she answered immediately. ¡°Miri, didn¡¯t you have ss today? By the way¡­ are you back?¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Miriam¡¯s voice snapped, crowded with grief and rage. ¡°You almost killed Ms. Turner.¡± Veronica froze. ¡°Miri, what are you talking about?¡± Miriam¡¯s voice wavered with sorrow and usation. ¡°The doctor said Ms. Turner had a severe allergic reaction since she wore your pajamas. It¡¯s because of the mugwort you infused them with! Dad stayed by her side all night just to get her through it. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t treated your pajamas with that stuff, she wouldn¡¯t have nearly died. You¡¯re a murderer! Why couldn¡¯t it have been you in that hospital bed instead of her?¡± When she heard her own daughter, the one she had carried for nine long months, say those words, Veronica felt as if rusted des were tearing through her one after another. The pain was sharp, relentless, and almost too much to bear. The pajamas had been infused with mugwort. 2/5 When Miriam and Samuel were born, their bodies were fragile. Under medical guidance, herbal therapies became part of their long¨Cterm care, and mugwort was the only scent they could tolerate without adverse reactions. To make it easier on them, Veronica began the habit of infusing her own clothes with the herb. In the beginning, her skin reacted with angry rashes and unbearable itching. But day after day, she endured it for the sake of her children¡¯s health. Eventually, her body stopped reacting. The herbal scent became a part of her, always clinging faintly to her clothes. Heath had once mocked her for it, saying she smelled like she had soaked in a vat of medicine. Veronica¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°Miri, you still haven¡¯t answered my question. Are you all back in Jouver? Did I ever tell her to wear those pajamas? If she took something without asking, that¡¯s stealing.¡± It was the first time Miriam had ever heard her mother speak to her in that tone. She froze for a second, then scoffed with a sharp sniff. ¡°Why should I tell you? You already moved out! Dad said she could wear it, so she¡¯s not a thief. ¡°And you ignored Dad¡¯s calls on purpose. You¡¯re awful! I don¡¯t ever want to talk to you again.¡± With that, she ended the call in a fury and blocked Veronica¡¯s number once more. This time, she decided, she wouldn¡¯t unblock her for a year. She was still young, and Veronica had always cherished her the most. But now, she didn¡¯t care. She was going to teach her mother a lesson¨Cone she wouldn¡¯t forget. Veronica¡¯s hands were cold. Her palms trembled as she lowered the phone, her fingers stiff. She could hardly believe those words hade from her daughter. Her vision blurred, and tears welled up, stinging her eyes. The numb ache in her chest finally gave way to something deeper. Suddenly, a small, pale hand reached toward her with a tissue. ¡°You¡¯re crying, Ms. Pretty. Here, use this.¡± Veronica looked up. Standing before her was a little girl of around four years old and dressed in a tiny hospital gown. Her skin was fair, and her hair was a tousled mess. Her soft little hands gently offered a tissue to Veronica¡¯s cheek, while wide hazel eyes looked up at her with worry. She was the child from the bed next to hers, Wanda Fletcher. Earlier that morning, Veronica had woken just in time to see her IV nearly run dry, almost causing blood to flow back up the tube. She had called for a nurse to change it. In her sleepy haze, Wanda had grabbed Veronica¡¯s sleeve and called her ¡°Mom¡°. ¡°Thank you, Wanda.¡± Veronica took the tissue from her small hand, a gesture so gentle and pure it warmed her heart. For the first time in days, a genuine smile touched her lips. Wanda suddenly gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. ¡°Oh wow! When you smile, you look just like a glowing fairy! You have to smile more, okay?¡± Veronica¡¯s smile deepened at Wanda¡¯s pure, earnest praise. ¡°It¡¯s a shame. My dad already has my mom,¡± Wanda said with a little sigh, shaking her head. Suddenly, an idea struck her, and her eyes lit up with excitement. ¡°But wait! What if you married my uncle? He doesn¡¯t have a wife yet!¡± Veronica couldn¡¯t help butugh, her eyes crinkling as she picked up a smallb to smooth Wanda¡¯s tousled hair. ¡°Wanda, I¡¯m already married.¡± Wanda¡¯s expression fell. ¡°What? You¡¯re married? Well, you are really pretty, so of course you¡¯d have a husband. But¡­ howe he¡¯s not here with you? When my mom gets sick, my dad stays up all night by her side.¡± Wanda had been admitted on short notice. She had fallen ill from the sudden climate change she experienced upon returning from abroad. Her parents hadn¡¯t been able to return in time, so her uncle had been left in charge. But her dad, clueless as ever, hadn¡¯t even realized her uncle was away on a business trip. Her grandfather hade byst night to drop off dinner and hired a nurse to watch over her, then rushed home to tend to his nts. Veronica¡¯s smile slowly faded as Miriam¡¯s words echoed in her mind. Last night, Heath must have stayed by Eleanor¡¯s bedside the whole time. That one call he made was probably just to pin the me on her. Wanda blinked up again, letting Veronica gently pat her head. Her soft fingers tucked stray strands of hair behind her ear. But her smile faded again, and Wanda wondered if it was because of Veronica¡¯s husband. In the private VIP ward, Miriam and Samuel had arrived early that morning to visit Eleanor. It had been toote the night before, so Heath hadn¡¯t let theme. The kids had stayed up anyway, calling him over and over, worried sick through the night. ¡°Mom is just too much! I called her, and she still wouldn¡¯t admit she was wrong. And she med you for wearing her pajamas, Miriam huffed as she leaned on the edge of the hospital bed, tugging gently at the hem of Eleanor¡¯s hospital gown. Eleanor¡¯s eyes flicked toward the balcony, where Heath had just ended a call. Her lips curled faintly.¡± Mira, your Aunt Olivia saw your mom with a manst night. Maybe she was caught up in something. She didn¡¯t mean to say those things.¡± ¡°Caught up?¡± Heath remarked coldly. A cold tension radiated from him, the kind that sent a shiver crawling down anyone¡¯s spine. That word was spit out through clenched teeth,ced with disbelief and fury. So that was why she hadn¡¯t answered his calls¨Cshe had been with another man. That exined everything. Eleanor¡¯s smile faltered as anxiety flickered in her eyes. ¡°Heath¡­ Olivia said she just happened to see them. Maybe it wasn¡¯t what it looked like.¡± Her voice trailed off, growing smaller with every word. Heath stormed out of the hospital room, his expression dark with fury. With barely restrained anger, he redialed Veronica¡¯s number. ¡°Where are you?* ¡°In the hospital,¡± she replied. Heath let out a mockingugh with a frown on his face. He figured Veronica must have heard from Miriam. ¡°Oh, you finally made time, Mrs. Tate? All done with your¡­ busy schedule?¡± he jeered. Veronica¡¯s brows pinched slightly. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Heath¡¯s voice turned even colder. ¡°Cut the act. Since you¡¯re already here, drop the pretense. Room 506. Get over here, now.¡± He hung up before she could reply. Veronica knew she had no choice. If she didn¡¯t go to that room and face them herself, things would only spiral further out of control. She exhaled deeply and adjusted the cor of her thin hospital gown. Across the corridor, Heath waited outside the private suite, growing more impatient with each passing second. He was about to call again when the door to one of the standard rooms clicked open across from him. A woman stepped out. She was pale, and her small frame barely held up the IV bag in one shaky hand. Her gown looked too loose for her already frail body. Heath¡¯s stern gaze softened just slightly as he caught sight of her. ¡°Why¡­ are you here?¡± His voice dropped, stunned. Dangerous 9 Veronica¡¯s eyes drifted past Heath¡¯s face with practiced indifference. She wasn¡¯t surprised to see him here. ¡°Didn¡¯t you already know?¡± she said as she put away her phone. Heath¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°If you¡¯re sick, why didn¡¯t you say anything?¡± When he saw her struggling to lift her IV drip, Heath stepped forward to help. But Veronica turned her body, avoiding him. Calmly, she removed the needle from her arm. ¡°No need for your concern, Mr. Tate. I know how to take care of myself. If I¡¯m sick, I know how to find a doctor.¡± When she had the flu, her whole body ached so badly that she couldn¡¯t even get out of bed. In the middle of one particrly awful night, she had broken down and texted him. His reply was burned into her memory. ¡°If you¡¯re sick, go to a hospital. I¡¯m not your doctor, am I?¡± Heath vaguely remembered she had mentioned something like this before, though he hadn¡¯t expected it to have been this serious. His eyes flickered with something unreadable. ¡°Veronica¡­ are you angry with me?¡± Just then, Samuel and Miriam heard a noise from the hallway and came rushing out. The moment they saw Veronica standing there in a hospital gown, both froze in shock. ¡°Mom? You¡­ you¡¯re sick?¡± Samuel hadn¡¯t seen her in a while. His joy quickly turned into panic as he rushed forward and grabbed her hand. He might have resented her strictness, but seeing her unwell unsettled him deeply. Miriam stood stunned at the threshold. Her voice was barely a whisper as she said, ¡°Mom¡­ you¡¯re sick? Did it happen because I said those horrible things just now? No¡­ no, I didn¡¯t mean it. I didn¡¯t want this.¡± Her eyes welled up with tears, and her shoulders trembled. Veronica didn¡¯t embrace her. Instead, she replied with a calm, detached tone, ¡°Yeah. Thanks to you, I ended up seriously ill in bed. But unfortunately, I didn¡¯t die.¡± Both Miriam¡¯s and Samuel¡¯s eyes welled up with tears instantly. Before they could respond, an urgent female voice called from inside the room, ¡°Sam? Mira? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Eleanor stumbled out of bed in a panic and rushed toward the doorway. But just as she reached it, her ¡± illness¡± caught up with her, and she nearly copsed right there. ¡°Ms. Turner!¡± Samuel and Miriam cried out in unison. They didn¡¯t hesitate. They ran straight past Veronica and into Eleanor¡¯s arms. Being the closest to her, Heath caught her in his arms without hesitation. ¡°You should be resting,¡± he said with a deep frown. His voice was stern, but his concern was evident. ¡°I¡¯m okay. I just heard the kids and got worried,¡± Eleanor murmured, embarrassed. Veronica stared at the scene before her¨CHeath holding Eleanor, and the children surrounding her. The ache in her chest pressed harder and deeper until it felt unbearable. Love and indifference¡­ the difference between the two was as in as day. She had once been blind enough not to see it. It wasn¡¯t until that moment that Eleanor seemed to notice Veronica standing nearby. She blinked, feigning surprise. ¡°Veronica? You¡¯re here too? I thoughtst night you were-¡± Her words were cut off abruptly by Heath¡¯s cold voice. He said tly, ¡°Veronica, care to exin why your clothes wereced with mugwort?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Mom! Ms. Turner almost died just from wearing your clothes!¡± Miriam¡¯s voice rang out again, full of righteous fury. Even if Veronica was sick, it was her own fault for not taking care of herself. She had iting. But Eleanor¡¯s illness was on Veronica. Veronica quietly dabbed at the needle mark on her hand with a cotton swab. ¡°Because of you two. You said you loved the scent on my clothes, so I had every piece treated with mugwort just for you.¡± She paused, looking at Heath. ¡°Mr. Tate, didn¡¯t you notice it too? Or have you gotten so used to another scent that this one slipped your mind?¡± Perhaps the kids were too young to remember the smell, but Heath¨Cher husband -had no excuse. The fact that he had forgotten something so simple was bitterly ironic. Heath¡¯s expression darkened. After a long silence, he said tly, ¡°Whatever the reason, Eleanor got sick because of you. Send the painting your grandfather gave you as a wedding gift to her as an apology. Say you¡¯re sorry, and we¡¯ll put this behind us.¡± ¡°Heath, what gives you the right to demand that?¡± Veronica¡¯s voice turned sharp, her hand clenching tight. Her grandfather had been a revered schr of Mycenarian Studies, and the painting ¡°Mountains of Sce was the masterpiece he spent ten years creating as her wedding gift. Because the frame was toorge, she had left it at the Tate residence when she moved out. Eleanor had hinted before that she wanted to borrow it for a period drama she was working on. Even when Veronica had loved Heath without her dignity, she had never once agreed to part with that painting. Now, Heath was using this incident to force her hand. Eleanor was inwardly ted, but on the surface, she pretended topromise with a sigh of reluctant generosity. ¡°Veronica, if that painting means so much to you, think of it as a loan. I¡¯ll return it once filming¡¯s over.¡± Heath brushed it off. ¡°It¡¯s just a painting. I¡¯ll have someone deliver it to the set tomorrow. Grandpa won¡¯t mind. I¡¯ll exin it to him.¡± Veronica clenched her teeth in anger. ¡°Heath, how dare you use my things to buy favors for someone else?¡± Heath¡¯s dark and unreadable gaze held hers. ¡°Veronica, don¡¯t be unreasonable.¡± ¡°Mom, Ms. Turner said if you make a mistake, you should make it right! Even if that was your pajamas, you still have to take responsibility!¡± Samuel added in a stern voice. Veronica let out a bitterugh. ¡°So if I poison a rat and a stray dog eats it and dies, that¡¯s still my fault?¡± Samuel fell silent. He remembered begging Veronica to use that scent because he and Miriam liked it. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if that made them the rats in the analogy. In an instant, Miriamshed out like a wild beast. She shoved the already weakened Veronica hard and screamed, ¡°You¡¯re so cruel! Stay away from Ms. Turner. Don¡¯te near us again.¡± Veronica hadn¡¯t expected it. Her body was still weak, and the shove sent her stumbling back. A tiny warm hand caught her just in time, steadying her. Wanda peeked out from behind her with a curious tilt of the head. She blinked, eyes wide in shock. ¡°Ms. Pretty, are you the other woman?¡± Then, she continued, ¡°My dad says only the other woman gets hated by the real wife¡¯s kids. Real kids love their mom and protect her no matter what. If a dad has a side chick, then he¡¯s just like toxic waste in a trash bin!¡± The moment Wanda spoke, the expressions on the four faces across from her shifted sharply. Veronica gave a cold, self¨Cdeprecating smile. ¡°I¡¯m his wife, the real one.¡± ¡°What?¡± Wanda gasped, eyes wide. She pointed at Miriam and Samuel. ¡°Then¡­ does that mean they¡¯re bastards?¡± ¡°You shut up! You¡¯re the bastard here!¡± Miriam snapped before lunging at her. But this time, Veronica was ready. She caught Miriam¡¯s wrist mid¨Cmotion, her voice steady but stern.¡± Who taught you to be so disrespectful, Miriam?¡± Miriam instantly burst into tears. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re taking her side. You don¡¯t love me anymore.¡± Wanda blinked innocently. ¡°But you were just taking thatdy¡¯s side. You didn¡¯t defend your own mom either. Doesn¡¯t that mean you don¡¯t love her?¡± Miriam froze, stunned into silence. Her words got caught in her throat, and she shot Wanda a fierce re. ¡°Mind your own business! She¡¯s my mom!¡± Samuel chimed in, ¡°Ms. Turner got sick wearing Mom¡¯s pajamas. That makes it Mom¡¯s fault. We¡¯re siding with what¡¯s right.¡± Wanda nodded dramatically and dragged a finger across her throat. ¡°So your mom forced thatdy to wear those pajamas? Like, she¡¯ll end her if she doesn¡¯t wear it?¡± The twins looked at each other, stunned. That¡­ wasn¡¯t quite what happened. Samuel mumbled, ¡°Ms. Turner asked to wear it. She said it herself.¡± ¨C A flicker of irritation passed over Eleanor¡¯s face. Wanda sped her hands behind her back and mimicked an adult¡¯s tone. ¡°Oh, so she¡¯s the other woman.¡± Veronica couldn¡¯t hold back a softugh. Wanda was speaking up for her. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Heath¡¯s voice finally cut through the chaos. im Bonus For Free Every Day>> Dangerous 10 Chapter 10 Heath¡¯s expression hardened, and his piercing gaze locked on Veronica. ¡°Is an apology really so hard for you?¡± Veronica met his eyes without flinching. ¡°Then tell me, what exactly am I apologizing for? For loving the children too much? Or for not arriving in time to stop my husband from bringing another woman into our bedroom and dressing her in my pajamas?¡± Disappointment flickered in Heath¡¯s expression. ¡°When did you be so aggressive?¡± Veronica gave a quiet, pitifulugh. So that was it. In his eyes, she was just¡­ aggressive. If she had been the one suffering from that allergic reaction, she wondered if Heath would have even bothered to visit her. She already knew the answer¨Che wouldn¡¯t have. -She wasn¡¯t the one he wanted to protect. No matter how justified she was, her words meant nothing because she wasn¡¯t Eleanor. She was tired of chasing dignity in a house that left her with none. Veronica lowered her gaze, her paleshes trembling faintly. ¡°Heath, let¡¯s get divorced,¡± she said softly. ¡°Ah!¡± Before the weight of her words could even settle, a shrill scream erupted from the far end of the hallway. A woman, wild¨Ceyed and barefoot in a hospital gown, came storming toward them from the far end. Her hair was a tangled mess, and her expression was manic. In her hand, she clutched a fruit knife. ¡°You filthy cheaters! If I¡¯m going to die, I¡¯m taking you with me! All of you! Die! Let¡¯s all go to hell together!¡± She shrieked as she charged at the group, shing the air with the knife. The hallway erupted into chaos. Patients and family members scattered, and screams echoed through the building. Eleanor¡¯s face went pale. ¡°Heath!¡± He instinctively shoved her, Samuel, and Miriam behind him to shield them. In the chaos, Veronica was pushed forward, straight into the path of the madwoman. She stumbled and fell hard onto the cold floor. There was nowhere left to run. ¡°Heath!¡± she cried out instinctively, her voice desperate. But all she saw was the man turning his body to shield his first love, his arms wrapped tightly around Eleanor. Her eyes burned and shimmered with tears as the corners reddened. When it came down to choosing, even with her life on the line, she was always the first one he threw aside. Heath¡¯s gaze flickered when he finally turned. He reacted and tried to reach her. ¡°Veronica!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Samuel shouted. ¡°Dad, no! It¡¯s dangerous!¡± Miriam cried. The madwoman lurched against the wall for bnce, then raised the knife with a crazed grin. ¡°Time to die, bitch!¡± Veronica felt her heart sink, and she squeezed her eyes shut. A hot tear rolled down her cheek. If she were to get another life, she didn¡¯t want to be anyone¡¯s wife or mother. She just wanted to be herself. Just then, the knife nged against something. A cool, woody scent brushed past Veronica, as well as the lingering warmth of someone¡¯s presence. It wrapped around her like a quiet shield, stirring an inexplicable sense of safety deep in her chest. The madwoman¡¯s furious screams still echoed in her ears. She could hear the sound of a de slicing through fabric, but the pain she was bracing for never came. Veronica slowly opened her eyes, dazed. A tall, unfamiliar figure stood firmly in front of her, a bare hand gripping the de mid¨Cair. The man¡¯s profile was striking- he had sharp bone structure, deep¨Cset eyes, and a height of nearly six feet three. Though his face held a quiet elegance behind gold¨Crimmed sses, there was something inherently dangerous about him. Blood had already begun to seep through the white cuff of his dress shirt, but he didn¡¯t seem to feel it. With one hand, he had pinned the madwoman to the floor, not even flinching. From within the surrounding crowd, Wanda was encircled by a team of bodyguards. She shouted anxiously, ¡°Uncle Ashton!¡± Ashton Fletcher turned at the sound of her voice. Behind the glint of his lenses, his gray eyes held the faintest hint of amusement. Veronica stared in disbelief. But before she could thank him, a wave of dizziness came crashing down, swallowing everything else. She copsed directly into his bloodied arm. Just before she lost consciousness, she felt a shadow lingering over her, watching her intently. ¡°Seriously? You ungrateful thing, already passed out?¡± someone muttered softly above her. When Heath saw the two of them embracing in the distance, something restless stirred in his chest. It was as if Veronica hadpletely forgotten she was already married. Samuel tugged at Heath¡¯s sleeve and murmured, ¡°Dad, I think Mom has hemophobia. She always faints at the sight of blood.¡± Heath¡¯s brows eased, and he took a step forward. Miriam¡¯s tear¨Cstreaked face turned pale again as she suddenly screamed, ¡°Dad! Ms. Turner fainted!¡± The hospital staff and police quickly arrived, and the chaos was quickly brought under control. ¡°The woman lost her mind after discovering her husband had been cheating on her with her best friend. She was nine months pregnant. Her oldest daughter even helped them hide it. ¡°The shock caused her to miscarry. She hasn¡¯t been mentally stable since, and something must¡¯ve triggered her today¡­¡± When Veronica finally woke upter that evening, a nurse informed her about what had happened. The madwoman¡¯s madness had been the final straw that broke her. Veronica bit her lip. ¡°I don¡¯t have the right to press charges. She injured that man. It¡¯s his call.¡± The nurse replied, ¡°Actually, he already left. He asked us to check with you instead.¡± Caught off guard, Veronica noticed a slip of paper by her bedside. She stared at it for a moment before murmuring, ¡°Let her get the needed treatment first.¡± The man who had saved her was gone, but he had left his number behind. Veronica picked up the note and saved the digits to her phone. As she opened her WhatsApp, a new text popped up from Heath. He said, ¡°Forget about the pajamas.¡± Veronica¡¯s lips twitched slightly. Without replying, she deleted the message. Across every gossip site and entertainment tform, headlines exploded like wildfire. ¡°Eleanor Named Lifetime Brand Ambassador for Tate Group!¡± ¡°Tate Group CEO Spares No Expense for Eleanor¡¯s Reality Show Debut!¡± ¡°Eleanor Rushed to ER¨CHeath Calls in Nation¡¯s Top Doctors!¡± A video clip began autoying below one of the trending posts. It showed Heath facing reporters, his voice cool andposed. He said, ¡°I owe her, and I¡¯ll make up for it hundred fold.¡± The light in Veronica¡¯s eyes dimmed as the video ended. After the incident with the madwoman, Heath immediately had Eleanor transferred to another hospital. He couldn¡¯t risk her getting even the slightest injury. Tate Group had never used a celebrity ambassador before. But this time, Eleanor wasn¡¯t just the face of the brand¨Cshe was the permanent face of it. There was even a workce reality show. Heath had always been notoriously strict about keeping cameras out of Tate Group headquarters. But for Eleanor, he had made a rare exception and allowed the show to film inside the corporate headquarters. It was the first time Veronica had seen him go this far for anyone. Eleanor really was the one he cherished above all else. A bittersweet smile tugged at Veronica¡¯s lips. Heath was a man who took his promises seriously. Once he made a promise, he never broke it. It was clear now that he and Eleanor were likely close to making things official. Thankfully, she had woken up from the dream in time. Veronica let out a silent breath of relief. She pulled out the drafted divorce agreement from her drawer and signed her name without hesitation. The next morning, Veronica contacted a local courier to deliver the divorce agreement to Hillside Vi. Heath would understand. This marriage had been a mistake from the start, and it was finally time to end
  1. it.
Veronica then called the number left by the man who had saved her. His assistant answered instead. Upon learning he had been transferred to Jouver Private Medical Center, she decided to visit in person. Before leaving, Veronica made a pot of homemade chicken soup as something to help replenish his strength and packed it with her. She also took a crisp, freshly pressed suit jacket from the closet. It was the one that Ashton had left behind. Meanwhile, at Jouver Private Medical Center, Eleanor had just fallen asleep after lunch. Miriam and Samuel were curled up beside her, also fast asleep. Heath stood on the balcony, finishing thest drag of a cigarette. His gaze drifted through the ss to the peaceful scene inside, and his features softened by the moment. On the other end of the line, Walter was giving a status update and mentioned the woman with the knife at the hospital. Heath crushed the cigarette in the ashtray. His voice turned cold as he said, ¡°She might not want to press charges, but I will.¡± The image of Veronica, backed helplessly into a corner, shed across his mind. His brow furrowed. ¡°Also, make arrangements to transfer her to a private facility.¡± There was a beat of silence. Walter hesitated, confused. ¡°You mean¡­¡± ¡°Veronica,¡± Heath replied. Chapter 11 Dangerous 11 Chapter 11 Walter blinked in surprise. Heath was actually showing concern for Veronica. In all these years, it had never happened before. He heard that there had been an attack at the hospital a couple of days ago, and Veronica had nearly been stabbed. Could it be that Heath felt guilty? Walter didn¡¯t have time to dwell on it. On the other end of the line, Heath said calmly, ¡°Keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn¡¯t die out there.¡± Walter understood what he meant immediately. If anything happened to Veronica and it were to be reported by the press, it would bring trouble to the Tate family. Tate Group was in the middle of a major expansion in Jouver. A single scandal¨Cespecially one involving a woman¨Ccould do serious reputational damage. Even though Heath and Veronica were secretly married, the elite social circles were particrly sensitive to matters like this. One slip, and rivalpanies would use it as leverage. Walter knew then that Heath wasn¡¯t acting out of guilt, and it definitely wasn¡¯t out of affection. He was being calctive. That realization brought Walter some relief. He had backed Eleanor all these years, and clearly, that decision was still the right one. ¡°Understood, Mr. Tate.¡± He made ns to visit the hospital himself and arrange Veronica¡¯s transfer. Veronica had been devoted to Heath for years, so a small gesture now might earn him a favor down the road. As he prepared to leave, the front desk called his line. ¡°Mr. Caldwell, we just received a local express parcel for Mr. Tate. It was sent from Eastfield District. The sender¡¯sst name is Dolton. Should we deliver it to your office?¡± ¡°No need. Just have it filed in the archive room,¡± Walter said without much thought. As Tate Group continued its expansion across Jouver, smaller firms kept flooding the office with unsolicited partnership proposals, hoping to catch a break. He didn¡¯t give the package a second thought and left for the hospital. But when he arrived, the front desk informed him that Veronica had already been discharged the day before. Walter frowned slightly. Chapter 11 That was unlike her. Normally, Veronica would notify Heath of any ns, even something as small as leaving the house. He was surprised she hadn¡¯t informed Heath about her discharge from the hospital. Still, if she had been discharged, it probably meant she was recovering well enough. In that moment, Walter made a judgment call and didn¡¯t bother reporting it to Heath. 2/2 At Jouver Private Medical Center, Veronica stepped into the elevator with a food container and a neatly folded suit jacket in hand. She was headed to the top floor, where the exclusive VIP suites were located. Before going up, she had even asked one of the nurses about the daily cost of the room. Ashton had saved her life. After thinking it over, she decided the only thing she could do for now was to cover the medical bills. ¡°Miss, the tenth floor is reserved for ck card patients. Everything¡¯s already covered,¡± a nurse informed her. It meant even if she wanted to pay, she couldn¡¯t. Disappointment flickered across Veronica¡¯s face. As the elevator doors slid open, she stepped out, only to be mmed into by a woman walking too fast from the opposite direction. The soup sloshed violently in the container, nearly spilling. ¡°Are you blind or just reckless?¡± the woman snapped before pausing in surprise. ¡°Wait¡­ Veronica?¡± Veronica narrowed her eyes slightly. The woman wore a white dress with a plunging neckline, clearly tailored to entuate her figure. Her hair was pulled into a sleek topknot, and her face was done up in minimalist makeup that aimed for elegance but came off as trying too hard. It was Kate Dawson. She was technically her uncle Stewart Dolton¡¯s stepdaughter, though everyone in the family knew the truth¨CKate was born out of an affair. Stewart¡¯s first wife, Valerie Carpenter, had passed away when Calvin was just 15. Six monthster, Stewart had married Kate¡¯s mother, Tabitha Dawson, and moved her into the family home. Their grandfather had been so enraged by the scandal that he had ended up in the hospital for half a year. Chapter 12 Dangerous 12 Chapter 12 After everything that happened, Calvin had grown utterly disillusioned. He chose to leave the country for school. Later, when Veronica¡¯s parents died unexpectedly, it was Stewart who stepped in and took her in immediately. At the time, she had thought it was out of familial duty. She never imagined he had ulterior motives. Veronica¡¯s father, Sigmund Dolton, had been a highly respected professor at Northvale College¨Cone of the most prestigious schools in the country. His passing had been so sudden that the administration didn¡¯t have time to find a recement for his lectures. Stewart, who had remained a low¨Cprofile associate professor for years, took over Sigmund¡¯s position right after his funeral. And the fashionbel her mother, Mnie Rowse, left behind was quickly taken over by Tabitha under the excuse of ¡°managing it temporarily¡°. During that same period, Veronica had worked on a painting alongside her grandfather, Malcolm. It was submitted to a national artpetition through her school, where it won a major prize. Soon after, she received an eptance letter from the Royal Academy of Design¨Ca dream school for any aspiring designer. Veronica still remembered how excited she had been when she got the eptance letter. But the only schrship spot had been lost when Tabitha ¡°identally¡± booked her flight for the wrong date. She ended up missing the reporting deadline. The next day, she could only watch as Kate posted her ¡°First Day at the Royal Academy¡± on Instagram. t was the moment everything became crystal clear. Dawsons were like leeches, draining everyst thing her parents had left behind¨Cincluding her future. Veronica ignored Stewart and Tabitha¡¯s hollow pleas for her to stay. She packed up and moved out that very night. Eventually, she earned her ce in the Fine Arts program at Cresthill College. It wasn¡¯t the Royal Academy of Design, but it was enough to keep her dream alive. 239 ¡°Hey! I¡¯m talking to you¨Care you deaf or something?¡± Kate¡¯s voice snapped Veronica out of her thoughts. She stood in her path with her arms crossed, radiating smug defiance. Veronica didn¡¯t bother hiding her disgust. She brushed past her with a cold nce. ¡°Get out of the way. Mutts should learn not to block the road.¡± Kate followed after her, voice dripping with mockery. ¡°Oh, please. Acting all high and mighty just because you married into the Tate family, huh? Your husband doesn¡¯t even want you. He¡¯s trending every other day with some actress, and you still have the nerve to act smug?¡± Veronica ignored the jab and walked straight toward the VIP hospital room. Kate¡¯s eyes narrowed when she noticed the food container Veronica was holding and the direction she was heading. There was only one patient in that room. Word around was that things between Veronica and Heath had soured. Kate figured Veronica had to be trying to cozy up to someone influential now that her marriage was on the rocks. Kate¡¯s expression shifted. Her heels clicked rapidly as she caught up to Veronica and grabbed her wrist before she could knock. She said, ¡°Let me guess. You got your hands on some backchannel gossip about Mr. Fletcher and threw together a pot of homemade soup, thinking a little ttery might win your husband a new deal?¡± Kate took Veronica¡¯s silence as confirmation. Her tone turned sharp, almost threatening. ¡°Don¡¯t get delusional, Veronica. Let me give you a tip for free. Even if you strip naked and crawl into his bed, someone like Mr. Fletcher wouldn¡¯t even look at you.¡± Veronica suddenly let out a quietugh. Kate¡¯s face twisted in anger. She shoved Veronica¡¯s arm away. ¡°What the hell are youughing at? Get lost! He¡¯s way out of your league.¡± Veronica tilted her head and smiled. ¡°Oh? Then is he within yours? I think you¡¯ve misunderstood. I don¡¯t have the same talent as your¡­ dear mother, Tabitha.¡± t her words deliberately, each syble sharp with intent. She didn¡¯t even bother to call Tabitha knew exactly how Tabitha and Kate wed their way into the family. The whole thing was an cret. ate¡¯s , voice cool. ¡°Anything forced never ends well.¡± Back then, even though Kate had managed to snatch her spot, the Royal Academy of Design wasn¡¯t a ce someone could just coast through. It was a ce filled with true talent. Even the worst of them could crush Kate¡¯s amateur work without lifting a finger. Kate¡¯s drawing skills were so embarrassingly poor that she couldn¡¯t even tell the difference between a sketch and a line draft. Her work quickly became infamous among her ssmates that year, passed around more as a joke than art. Within just three months, she was officially expelled without the opportunity to appeal. The memory struck a nerve, as that incident had been a festering wound in Kate¡¯s pride ever since. Kate¡¯s face twisted in fury. ¡°You bitch! It was you! You sabotaged me! You couldn¡¯t stand seeing me seed, so you made sure I got expelled! I should teach you a lesson for your parents¡® sake.¡± Her hand flew up, ready to p Veronica. Veronica didn¡¯t flinch. She was about to dodge when the door behind her suddenly opened. A warm, familiar hand gripped her wrist and pulled her gently inside. Chapter 13 Dangerous 13 Chapter 13 Kate¡¯s p nevernded. The door to the hospital room swung open, and her hand froze midair. Panic shed across her face. ¡°Mr. Fletcher¡­ you¡¯re awake?¡± Ashton stood there in a in hospital gown with a clean bandage wrapped around his arm. Even while injured, the weight of his presence seemed to fill the room. His cool gray eyes swept over Kate with indifference. Ashton¡¯s brow creased with visible irritation. ¡°Who are you?¡± Kate quickly hid her raised hand behind her back and forced a smile. ¡°I¡¯m Kate Dawson, Mr. Fletcher. I¡¯m new in the design department. ¡°I heard you were unwell, so I came to visit on behalf of our team. Mr. Dell said you were resting. I didn¡¯t mean to disturb you.¡± She had pulled strings just to find out Ashton was being treated at this hospital. After arriving early that morning, she even brought a gift basket filled with supplements. However, his assistant, William Dell, had blocked her outside the door and hadn¡¯t even let her catch a glimpse. Just as she was about to leave, she ran into Veronica. And now, of all moments, Ashton had stepped out just in time to see everything. Ashton didn¡¯t recognize her at all. His eyes narrowed slightly with a cool detachment lingering in their depths. ¡°You knew I was resting, and still caused a scene outside my room. What¡¯s your goal? Harassment?¡± ¡°No, I¡­ I didn¡¯t mean-¡± Kate stammered. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze cool and cutting. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize the design department had this much free time.¡± He wasn¡¯t wearing his sses today. Under the crisp light of the hallway, the lines of his face were sharply defined, casting a natural shadow that made him look all the more aloof and untouchable. Kate was too caught up in staring to notice the sharp edge in his voice. She even started to step closer, eager to exin herself. ¡°I was just concerned about your health¡­¡± William stepped in just in time, blocking her path. ¡°Ms. Dawson, please leave.¡± Before she could protest, the door closed firmly in her face. Ashton¡¯s hand was still resting lightly on Veronica¡¯s wrist. It was a subtle gesture, but it burned in Kate¡¯s eyes like a brand. Her freshly manicured nails dug hard into her palm, leaving crescent¨Cshaped marks in the skin. Fury twisted through her chest and nearly tipped her into madness. William stood firm at the doorway, unfazed and unmoving. He just wanted the mad Kate to leave. If she kept this up, Ashton would likely have her transferred to some remote development project in Nargunda. Unbeknownst to either of them, Eleanor had been watching the whole scene from a distance. After taking it all in, she silently slipped back into her own room. Inside the room, only Veronica and Ashton remained. Veronica felt her nerves tighten upon remembering how curt he had been just montents ago. ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to disturb your rest, sir.¡± Ashton settledzily onto the couch, his expression unreadable. When he heard the way she addressed him, he arched his brow slightly. ¡°Sir?¡± She quickly corrected herself after recalling how Kate had addressed him earlier. ¡°Mr. Fletcher, thank you for stepping in just now. I wasn¡¯t sure what you might need, but I brought some food¨Cchicken soup and some fresh scones.¡± Veronica unpacked the food container and carefully ted the homemade chicken soup and freshly baked pastries one by one. Ashton replied evenly, ¡°It was nothing. No need to be so polite, Ms. Dolton.¡± He didn¡¯t say whether or not he would eat what she brought. When Veronica caught a glimpse of the bandages wrapped around Ashton¡¯s arm and hand, she made up mind. He had taken that injury for her, so the least she could do was offer something warm in return. time William returned to the room, Veronica was already holding out a bowl of steaming soup to moment William saw that, he felt his heart drop. He didn¡¯t get a chance to shut the door in time just ow, and any second now, someone was about to be tossed out of the room. Ashton was notoriously particr when it came to food, and his stomach was sensitive. He usually followed a strict meal n curated by a private nutritionist, and he loathed soupy dishes. On top of that, he had a serious case of germophobia¨Che never touched food from strangers. Not to mention, he had just had a meal half an hour ago. Veronica had hit every one of his bottom lines without even trying. William kept his eyes down, doing his best to stay invisible. He didn¡¯t even want to imagine how badly this was about to go for Veronica. Veronica carefully ced the bowl and spoon on the tray in front of him. When Ashton still didn¡¯t move, guilt twisted in her chest. He couldn¡¯t even lift a spoon. That stab wound must have hurt more than he let on. Without thinking, she scooped up a spoonful, gently blew on it, and brought it to his lips. William stopped breathing. That was it. Veronica was done for. ¡°Not bad. Thank you,¡± Ashton said, taking the spoonful with elegant ease. He tilted his chin slightly, gesturing for her to continue. Upon seeing nothing strange in his reaction, Veronica simply smiled anddled up another. im Bonus For Free Every Day>> X im Dangerous 14 William widened his eyes. He stood frozen in the doorway, pupils contracting as he stared at the scene in disbelief. Ashton, the man who couldn¡¯t stand soups of any kind, was now calmly drinking the chicken soup he used to despise with a vengeance. It was like watching a meteor m into Earth or a ck hole get patched up by a wandering asteroid. As a seasoned executive assistant, William took pride in remainingposed, but even he couldn¡¯t suppress the wild swirl of curiosity rising inside him. Ashton shot him a nce. ¡°Do you have a lot of free time, William?¡± William smiled politely. ¡°I just remembered I left an urgent contract back at the office. I¡¯ll get that signed right away. I¡¯m heading out now, Mr. Fletcher.¡± Without another word, he spun on his heel and left. He couldn¡¯t believe what he had just seen. Vernon had handpicked countless potential matches for Ashton over the years, but he had somehow overlooked one ring category¨Cmarried women. Ashton had lived like a monk for years. But when he fell for someone else, it was on an entirely different level. William had perfect vision, and he saw it clearly¨Cwhen Veronica fed him that spoonful, Ashton was looking at her as if she were the only thing that mattered. Everything made sense now. It was no wonder Ashton, who had once taken a bullet to the shoulder and insisted on recovering at home, was now voluntarily holed up in a hospital room. He had even asked the doctor to wrap his arm in that theatrical bandage. The truth was, the wound had already scabbed over that very first night. And yet, here he was, still lounging in a private suite dayster. William chuckled inwardly. He honestly couldn¡¯t wait to see how Vernon would react once this all got out. Romances among the rich really yed out like soap operas. Back inside the room, Veronica continued feeding Ashton spoon by spoon. When thest drop was gone, Ashton lifted his chin slightly and said, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Veronica blinked in surprise. This wasn¡¯t ordinary chicken soup. It was fortified with medicinal herbs, giving it a slightly bitter aftertaste. It wasn¡¯t delicious by any usual standard. She had made a simr one for Miriam and Samuel once. Both of them had flipped their bowls and spat them out the second they hit their tongues. ¡°If you liked it, Mr. Fletcher, I¡¯ll make more next time,¡± she said gently as she tidied up the dishes. Ashton noticed a few faded burns across her pale palm, likely from oil stters, and his gaze darkened slightly. ¡°No need,¡± he said. Veronica lowered hershes, making it hard to read her expression. ¡°Still, thank you again for saving me. I¡¯d like to cover your medical expenses this time. You can have Mr. Dell send me the invoice whenever it¡¯s convenient.¡± Ashton looked at her for a long moment. He then let out a low, incredulousugh. ¡°Do I look like I need money?¡± Once again, her tone slipped into that overly polite formality. ¡°Well¡­ if there¡¯s ever anything you need, anything I can help with, feel free to reach out. I owe you a favor,¡± Veronica said, a little uneasy. This was the first time she had encountered something like this. Ashton didn¡¯t want money, and with someone like him, she honestly didn¡¯t know what she could offer in return. But surprisingly, Ashton didn¡¯t turn her down this time. Just before she left, he casually tossed his phone in front of her. ¡°Add me, Ms. Dolton.¡± Without reacting, Veronica opened her phone and scanned his Instagram QR code. Right then, a call came through. ¡°Are you really not going to eat anything, Ms. Turner? The chef made something really good today.¡± Miriam stood by the bedside holding a bowl of food, her face scrunched with concern. Eleanor, with her paleplexion, shook her head. ¡°My stomach¡¯s been uneasy. I¡¯m not really in the mood for food. You go ahead and eat, Mira.¡± Samuel suddenly perked up. ¡°I remember Mom used to make this really good soup when we weren¡¯t feeling well. Let¡¯s get her to make some for you, Ms. Turner.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too much trouble. Besides, Veronica¡¯s not feeling great either. I can skip a meal,¡± Eleanor said softly. Samuel didn¡¯t listen. ¡°I¡¯m calling her now. She didn¡¯t even apologize, so making soup is the least she can do.¡± Veronica¡¯s soup was always warm, hearty, andforting. If Eleanor had some, she would start feeling better. Samuel called Veronica. But this time, it rang for a long while before the tone even came through. Samuel, growing impatient, frowned. ¡°Mom, what are you doing? Hurry up ande to the private hospital. Make some soup for Ms. Turner!¡± What followed was a beeping tone¨CVeronica had hung up on him. Samuel stared at the screen, stunned. Dangerous 15 Chapter 15 Samuel stared at the screen, confused. The line was now dead. His gaze flickered with disbelief. ¡°Did¡­ Mom just hung up on me?¡± In his memory, Veronica had never once ended a call on him first. ¡°That can¡¯t be right,¡± Miriam said, frowning as she leaned in to look. ¡°Mom wouldn¡¯t dare. She probably just slipped and hit the wrong button. Ms. Turner can¡¯t wait much longer. Hurry up and call her again.¡± Still unsure, Samuel redialed. This time, the phone didn¡¯t even ring. It showed the line was busy. Instantly, his expression darkened. Veronica did it on purpose. She was being so childish! A grown woman like her was acting like a sulking teenager. Eleanor broke out in angry rashes all because she wore Veronica¡¯s pajamas. If Eleanor hadn¡¯t sshed milk on him that day, he might have had the same allergic reaction. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. While clutching his phone, Samuel ran out of the hospital room. ¡°Samuel!¡± Miriam called after him, stomping her foot. ¡°Ms. Turner hasn¡¯t eaten yet!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll figure it out,¡± he called back. On the other side of the building, Veronica had just hung up on Samuel¡¯s call when a message from Courtney popped up on her phone. Without hesitation, Veronica called her back. ¡°That client is extremely picky. The team submitted more than a hundred designs, and the client rejected every single one,¡± Courtney said, sounding tired. She paused, ¡°Veronica, after thinking it through¡­ you¡¯re the only one I believe can do this. Would you be willing to give it a try?¡± Veronica was quiet for a moment. ¡°What¡¯s the design concept?¡± Courtney picked up on her hesitation, and she said hopefully, ¡°The client is looking for a vitality¨Cthemed sportswear collection, inspired by the idea of spiritual reawakening. I¡¯ll email you the full brief shortly. ¡°I know it¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve done graphic design, so just take a look first. If you¡¯re interested, I¡¯ll go ahead and talk to the client.¡± Veronica listened silently until Courtney finished, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll take it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re in, Veronica?¡± Courtney sounded surprised and excited. Veronica said firmly, ¡°I¡¯ve thought it through these past couple of days. I still want to be a designer. I want to live for myself, just once. I¡¯ll take this project. It¡¯ll be my re¨Centry assessment.¡± After all, skills could fade if they weren¡¯t used. Designing for this sportswear brand was more than just a job¨Cit was a turning point. Veronica sat quietly on a bench just outside the hospital. The early March wind brushed against her coat, sending a chill through her. Above her, a few fresh buds had quietly appeared on the bare branches. Her gaze turned clear and determined as she made up her mind. Courtney wanted to say that even without a formal assessment, no one at Novaro Design dared question Veronica¡¯s qualifications. But this path was one Veronica had chosen for herself. And now that she had taken the first step, she wouldn¡¯t back down. Courtney smiled with relief. ¡°Wee back, Smile. I¡¯m excited to see what you create.¡± A soft smile bloomed on Veronica¡¯s face. At that exact moment, sunlight slipped through the branches above, casting a golden glow across her face and making her look radiant. On the tenth floor, a man stood silently by the window. A cigarette burned between his fingers. ¡°Who was on the phone? She looked¡­ so happy,¡± he murmured. Her smile was almost blinding, the kind that could make others feel jealous. ¡°Ms. Pretty!¡± Wanda hopped out of the car, her sweet voice carrying as she ran toward Veronica. ¡°We¡¯ll talkter, Courtney.¡± Veronica looked up at the sound and quickly ended her call. She waved to the tiny figure sprinting toward her. ¡°Wanda, what are you doing here? Were you transferred to this hospital?¡± Wanda bounced straight into her arms. Veronica smiled and gently brushed a hand over her smooth forehead. Wanda shed her teeth and instinctively nced up toward the tenth floor. ¡°Nope! I came to see my uncle. He¡¯s sick.¡± Veronica pinched her chubby cheek and said gently, ¡°Oh, the uncle who refuses to get married?¡± Chapter 15 Wanda nodded earnestly, looking troubled. ¡°Yeah! Ms. Pretty, now that you¡¯re getting divorced, can you go on a blind date with my uncle? He¡¯s really handsome. He¡¯s the most handsome man in all of Jouver!¡± Wanda was working hard to promote him. Veronica crouched slightly and pulled her into a hug. ¡°And how do you know I¡¯m getting divorced?¡± ¡°Because your husband doesn¡¯t treat you well. If he¡¯s mean, why stay with him?¡± Wanda tilted her head thoughtfully, her voice soft but firm. Veronica couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her candid logic. ¡°You¡¯ve got a point.¡± Wanda¡¯s face lit up with hope. im Bonus For Free Every Day>> Dangerous 16 Chapter 16 Wanda was pleased by the situation, and she cheered about Veronica getting a divorce. Samuel had called Veronica several more times, but none of the calls were answered. Since the day he first got his phone, this was the first time Veronica had refused to pick up his calls. It wasn¡¯t just once, but several times in a row. He felt a sting of hurt as he wandered out of the hospital alone, only to spot Veronica standing nearby. She was hugging that annoying little girl in her arms and smiling down at her with the same soft expression she used to reserve just for them. He clenched his fists and walked past them, pretending not to notice. Veronica caught sight of him and called out instinctively, ¡°Sam?¡± He huffed and didn¡¯t look back. With his chin lifted high, he marched forward. In the past, whenever he got upset, Veronica would always find some way to cheer him up. He had seen the food container in her hand. Inside it was the thermos she always used to carry her homemade soup. Samuel thought she was being overly dramatic about everything that happened. If she didn¡¯t apologize first, he wasn¡¯t going to talk to her. This time, she had to promise to make soup for Eleanor every day for a month. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t forgive her. However, he walked all the way down the corridor and still didn¡¯t hear Veronica call after him. His resolve started to waver. When he turned back, he saw her hugging Wanda and waving goodbye. Then, she picked up the food container and headed toward the car. ¡°Mom, you can¡¯t just leave!¡± Samuel couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He rushed forward and grabbed her arm. Veronica calmly pulled her hand back, her smile fading as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Ms. Turner can¡¯t even eat because of you! You can¡¯t be this selfish!¡± ¡°Oh? Why, does she like me or something?¡± Veronica mocked. Samuel choked up, and his face flushed red. ¡°She is not! Don¡¯t tter yourself. Ms. Turner wants your soup. Go give it to her and say sorry. She¡¯s kind, so she¡¯ll forgive you.¡± His eyesnded again on the food container in her hand, and he reached for her again. Veronica paused. There was something so raw in his expression that made her suddenlye to an understanding. She took a small step back and avoided his hand. Right in front of him, Veronica pulled out the thermos meant for soup. She unscrewed the lid, then calmly tipped the empty thermos over the nearest trash can. ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t do that!¡± Samuel shouted. He panicked, thinking she was dumping the soup out. He rushed to grab her hand, but Veronica turned the thermos toward him, showing it was already empty. Samuel¡¯s voice trembled with anger. ¡°Mom, how could you turn into someone so selfish? You¡¯d rather dump it out than let Ms. Turner have it? You¡¯re horrible! I hate you!¡± A faint smile curved Veronica¡¯s lips, though her gaze remained distant. ¡°Well, if you can hate me, I have the right to hate, too. I¡¯m not giving this soup to you. The thought of someone I dislike drinking it¡­ Honestly, it makes me sick.¡± Samuel¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and his small chest rose and fell with ragged breaths. He had never been spoken to so harshly by Veronica, and the aftermath hit him harder than he expected. Veronica nced at him, then suddenly asked, ¡°If your father and I get divorced, who would you choose to live with?¡± ¡°Dad, of course! I would never live with you,¡± he replied without a second¡¯s hesitation. A flicker of pain crossed Veronica¡¯s eyes, and it felt like she had taken a blow to her chest. For a moment, it felt like all the warmth had been drained from her body. She had expected this answer. But hearing it out loud and how sure Samuel sounded left her momentarily breathless. The pain in her chest wed deeper than she had imagined. It wasn¡¯t just disappointment¨Cit was heartbreak. She stood silent for a moment before looking at him and saying quietly, ¡°Alright. It¡¯s your choice.¡± Thewyer had informed her that the court would consider a child¡¯s preferences when making custody arrangements. It seemed she had overestimated her importance to him. By now, Heath had probably received the divorce agreement she mailed to his office. Samuel couldn¡¯t understand why Veronica had changed so much. She loved Heath so much, so there was no way she would really go through with a divorce. He had watched enough of Eleanor¡¯s shows to know how these things worked. In them, neglected wives often pretended to file for divorce just to win their husbands back. Sometimes they even used their kids as leverage. Samuel wasn¡¯t going to let Veronica pull that stunt on him. Chapter 17 Dangerous 17 Chapter 17 Samuel believed he had figured out Veronica¡¯s intentions. He huffed and turned his back to her in protest. ¡°Mom, Dad¡¯s never going to love you the way he loves Ms. Turner. You should give it up.¡± He paused, then added with a softer voice, ¡°Even if you go back to being the way you used to be, I won¡¯tin about you nagging anymore. But you still owe me an apology. You were mean to me earlier.¡± He rambled on for a while, waiting for an apology that never came. When he finally turned around, he saw that Veronica was already inside the car, waiting by the curb. It had driven off down the road. Samuel¡¯s face flushed red with frustration. He screamed toward the car, as if releasing all the frustration building up in him. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not going to let you get your way!¡± He stormed back into the hospital room, feeling defeated. Miriam looked up in confusion. ¡°I thought you said you were getting the soup Mom made, Samuel? Ms. Turner¡¯s still waiting to drink it. Don¡¯t tell me you came back empty¨Chanded?¡± ¡°Of course not! I¡¯ll get it. Just wait!¡± Samuel snapped. But that night, Samuel suddenly came down with a high fever. Even in his sleep, he kept mumbling, ¡°Mom¡­ Mom, the soup¡­¡± Heath sat beside the bed, looking utterly exhausted. Walter walked in quietly and lowered his voice. ¡°Mr. Tate, I still can¡¯t reach Mrs. Tate.¡± If he remembered correctly, this was the second time. By now, even he had started to wonder what was going on with Veronica. Heath¡¯s gaze darkened, and a hint of rare anger shed across his face. ¡°She¡¯s really going to hold a grudge like this? She¡¯d rather ignore her sick child just to make a point?¡± He scoffed, ¡°Ipletely misjudged you, Veronica.¡± Meanwhile, in Veronica¡¯s apartment, she had just downloaded the client brief Courtney sent her. Once she confirmed the client¡¯s red gs, she finally let herself breathe and startedying out her design drafts. She had a habit when designing¨Cshe would be totally disconnected from the outside world. Years ago, the first piece that won her a national award waspleted after she locked herself in a studio for seven straight days. She hadn¡¯t even stepped outside once. Any outside interference threw off her rhythm. Sometimes, inspiration was fleeting. If she didn¡¯t seize it, it might not return. To keep herself from slipping, Veronica switched her phone to airne mode. She didn¡¯t want to be checking the time only to be blindsided by gossip headlines about Eleanor and Heath. She may have let go of him, but that didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t angry. Veronica buried herself in the project for three straight days. Even in her dreams, she continued to visualize tiny adjustments to the clothes¨Ctweaks in fabric, stitching, and proportions. On the third morning, shepleted the pants design, finishing the color scheme and logo cement at the hemline in one sitting. As soon as she sent off all the finalized drafts, Courtney¡¯s emailnded in her inbox almost instantly. Courtney said, ¡°Veronica, you are a genius! Absolutely incredible!¡± Courtney¡¯s enthusiastic praise finally settled Veronica¡¯s nerves. This ¡°spiritual reawakening¡± concept wasn¡¯t just another collection¨Cit was her ticket back into the design world. She was going to use that ticket to kick down every hurdle in her way. From here on, she would continue to push the boundaries of neo¨CCinderone style and shape it into something bolder, sharper, and unmistakably her own. Veronica smoothed out the extra sketches on her desk. Her path had never felt clearer. After submitting her final drafts, Veronica finally let herself crash. She slept harder than she had in weeks. By the time she remembered to switch her phone off airne mode, the screen lit up with a flood of missed calls. Heath, Walter, Eleanor, Miriam, as well as people from the Tate residence, had tried to teach her. Veronica frowned, and an uneasy feeling sank into her chest. Among the flood of notifications, one WhatsApp message from Heath caught her eye. ¡°Samuel¡¯s running a high fever. Come to the hospital.¡± It was sent three days ago, at 3:00 am. Veronica froze, her fingers tightening around the phone. How did Samuel get a fever? Samuel had seemed perfectly fine when she saw him that afternoon. He was even defiant and sharp- tongued, telling her he would choose Heath without hesitation. Veronica¡¯s eyes dimmed, her expression hollowing as a wave of heaviness settled over her. Back then, whenever Samuel or Miriam felt even the slightest difort, Veronica would stay by their side night and day. She never even bothered to change out of her clothes, just so she could be there the moment they needed her. She wouldn¡¯t leave their bedside, not even for a moment. But they didn¡¯t remember that. All they remembered was her nagging. They said she wasn¡¯t a doctor and that hovering by the bed wouldn¡¯t cure anything. A bitter smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She wiped at the corner of her eye, brushing away a sudden sting of heat. So what if she went now? What difference would it make? Enjoy Ad¨CFree Reading>> Dangerous 18 Heath hadter on bombarded Veronica with question marks, followed by a barrage of usatory messages. ¡°As a mother, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being heartless?¡± ¡°Samuel just wanted to drink the soup you made.¡± He even sent a photo. In it, Samuely in a hospital bed. His cheeks were unnaturally flushed from the fever, and his brows were tightly furrowed. He was clearly in pain. Veronica felt her heart clench, and she stared at the picture for a long time. In the end, she held back the ache and worry in her chest. Her fingers hovered over the screen, and she chose to long¨Cpress the photo and delete it. She replied to Heath with a single message, then immediately exited the chat. At the hospital, three days had passed before Veronica finally replied. When Heath read her message, anger red in his eyes. She had vanished for three days, and when she finally responded, it was with something cold and detached. ¡°I¡¯m not a doctor. If he gets sick and craves chicken soup, make sure your chef has it ready ahead of time. Heath wondered if she really thought one careless sentence could undo everything. He felt his patience snap, and he immediately dialed her number. ¡°Veronica, where are you?¡± he asked sharply. ¡°At home,¡± she replied calmly. Heath went silent for a beat. The maid had been at Hillside Vi for three days straight, and not once had Veronica shown up. She was clearly lying. His fury deepened. ¡°At home, you say? Do you remember you¡¯re Samuel¡¯s mother? He¡¯s had a fever for three days, and you haven¡¯t shown your face once. I¡¯ve never seen a mother so heartless.¡± Veronica replied calmly, ¡°Mr. Tate, I¡¯m not a doctor. Maybe you should ask your son if he still remembers what he said¨Chow much he hates me and never wants to see me again.¡± Heath frowned. ¡°He¡¯s a child. You can¡¯t take his words that literally. Do you even understand? It¡¯s because of you that his condition got worse.¡± Samuel¡¯s fever had been unrelenting. Over the past three days in the hospital, the doctors tried every treatment they could. But every time he seemed to stabilize, the fever would spike again, worse than before. It wasn¡¯t untilte one night, when Walter dropped by to deliver some documents, that the truth came out. Walter happened to see Samuel sneaking into the bathroom to take a cold shower while everyone was asleep. That was why his fever spiked again and worsened. Heath had wanted to scold him and ask why he would do something so reckless. But when he saw Samuel burning with fever, lying helpless in that hospital bed, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to scold him. The only word Samuel kept mumbling was ¡°Mom¡°. Eleanor had stepped in, gently pulling Heath aside. ¡°Samuel just misses Veronica. No matter what has happened or how busy Veronica might be, she¡¯s still their mother. It¡¯s not right for her to go three days without even checking on Samuel.¡± It was all because of Veronica. If she hadn¡¯t started acting so irrationallytely, Samuel wouldn¡¯t have spiraled into such deep insecurity. He wouldn¡¯t have been so desperate for attention that he¡¯d resort to something as extreme as dousing himself in cold water. Veronica cleared the trash from her desk, forcing herself to breathe evenly. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m the viin here. I should stay far away from him so he doesn¡¯t keep suffering because of me.¡± Heath¡¯s patience finally snapped. His tone turned cold as he gave onest order. ¡°You have one hour. Get to the private hospital. Otherwise, if you¡¯re so done being Mrs. Tate, then I¡¯ll make it official.¡± She had fought tooth and nail for this marriage, and Heath knew better than anyone that this title mattered to her. ca would understand. ond, he heard herugh, light and unbothered. ¡°Sure. Just don¡¯t keep Ms. Turner waiting. e flickered, and his voice tensed up. ¡°You¡¯re seriously picking this moment to get jealous over It was true that work had consumed himtely, and he hadn¡¯t been paying enough attention to her. While they were in Shalton, Eleanor stepped in to care for both Miriam and Samuel in an effort to get closer to them. Whatever her reasons were, none of them justified Veronica¡¯s irrational behavior now. ¡°Veronica, stop this nonsense. Try acting like an adult for once. Understand your ce¨Cit¡¯ll save you a lot of trouble,¡± he said, his voice sharp and low. Veronica¡¯s chest tightened again, and the unbearable pressure built up once more. She felt relieved that the design draft had already been submitted. ¡°Are you finished?¡± she asked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to see him. So do us both a favor and don¡¯t waste another minute of your precious time. Go get back to work,¡± she said tly, then ended the call. The screen lit up again almost immediately with another call from Heath. But this time, she blocked him. The pressure in her chest lifted instantly. While scrolling through a sea of unread messages, her eyes spotted a new, unfamiliar chat. X had said, ¡°I want some soup.¡± Dangerous 19 Chapter 19 Veronica gave it a thought. She had a feeling that the profile with the in ck avatar was most likely Ashton. The timing of the message was way too coincidental, as it came shortly after she¡¯d submitted her work earlier today. Veronica texted X back, ¡°Okay. Where should I deliver it?¡± X replied almost instantly, ¡°The hospital.¡± Learning he was still at the hospital made Veronica¡¯s guilt deepen even more. If there were a next time, she¡¯d definitely take the hit first. She shook her head and ordered the ingredients for cooking on a food delivery app. While waiting for the groceries, she went to the balcony for some fresh air. To her surprise, she discovered that the apple blossoms in the garden had all bloomed overnight, creating a stunning sight. The wind had blown down one blossom, and Veronica caught it in her hand. The gesture helped dispel some of the gloom weighing on her chest. ¡°Who¡¯s stealing my flower?¡± The elderly man from next door, who tended the garden, came over in quick strides. Veronicaughed. ¡°Not me. It came to me on its own.¡± Vernon chuckled along. ¡°You little rascal. I haven¡¯t seen you these past few days. Were you on a business trip?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ve been working from home and didn¡¯t have time toe out.¡± Vernonined disapprovingly, ¡°Veronica, look how busy you are! Yourpany is treating you like some overworked sryman! Seriously, though, are you sure you don¡¯t want to meet my youngest son?¡± Veronicaughed, caught between amusement and helplessness. ¡°My divorce isn¡¯t finalized yet. That¡¯d be awkward.¡± ¡°A blind date isn¡¯t marriage. Who¡¯s going to call the cops on you?¡± Vernon coaxed persistently. ¡°Anyway, he¡¯s handsome and wealthy. I can confidently say that there isn¡¯t a single young talent in Jouver who can Just mentioning that fired Vernon up again. William had actually said Ashton had a thing for married women. Was he trying to sabotage him with that rumor? Well, Vernon wasn¡¯t having it. Veronica found the description somewhat familiar. For a moment, she couldn¡¯t remember where she¡¯d heard it before. After Vernon¡¯s enthusiastic pitch, Veronica¡¯s cheeks were burning hot. As soon as the grocery delivery arrived, she immediately used it as an excuse to go back inside. She never expected that even as a married woman of six years, she¡¯d experience the madness of elders pushing for matchmaking. Veronica carried the groceries inside, chuckling helplessly. After making one serving of hearty soup, there was still an extra portion left in the pot. The memory of Wanda at the hospital two days ago shed through her mind. She wondered if she was still there. With that thought, her hands moved on their own, carefully packing up a second container. She thought she might as well bring both. If fate had it, maybe she¡¯d run into her again. And besides, the At the hospital, Veronica gave the room number just likest time. The front desk staff handed her a key card that provided her direct elevator ess. However, the elevator stopped without warning as she reached the ninth floor. The doors slid open on their own. Outside, Heath was holding Samuel in his arms while Eleanor leaned against his side, holding Miriam¡¯s hand. The family of four looked picture¨Cperfect together. But when their eyes met hers, all four of their smiles froze. Samuel¡¯s face lit up with joy at first. Then, remembering something, he red at her with disgust and buried his face in Heath¡¯s shoulder. Miriam rolled her eyes at her and even looked like she was about to spit. Eleanor nced at Veronica¡¯s expression from the corner of her eye. Then, she patted Miriam¡¯s hand and whispered soothingly to her. Heath¡¯s lips curved into a cold smile as he looked her up and down, taking in both the woman in the elevator and the food containers in her hands. Sure enough, no matter how much she pretended not to care, she still couldn¡¯t let go of the children. She camete because she¡¯d been cooking soup for Samuel. ¡°Perfect timing,¡± Heath said coldly. Veronica remained silent, scanning the row of people in front of her. She sighed inwardly at her rotten luck. It was truly unfortunate timing. Chapter 20 Dangerous 20 The atmosphere fell into an eerie silence. Samuel secretly nced back and spotted the soup in Veronica¡¯s hands. He huffed, ¡°Showing up with soup now? I don¡¯t want it anymore! Take your soup and get out of here!¡± Since Samuel and Eleanor had both been sick these past few days, Miriam felt left out. She was resentful and took her frustration out on Veronica. ¡°Mom, either you show up, or don¡¯t! You¡¯re ¡®so annoying. Samuel and Ms. Turner are already better, and now you bring soup?¡± If Veronica hade earlier, she could have cared for Samuel and wouldn¡¯t have monopolized Eleanor¡¯s attention. ¡°Veronica, they¡¯re still young. Don¡¯t take what they¡¯re saying to heart,¡± Eleanor said, gently biting her lip while appearing anxiously eager to exin. Veronica smiled and asked, ¡°Are you all done?¡± Without waiting for their response, she firmly pressed the button for the tenth floor. The elevator doors quickly closed shut, and the shocked faces of the group disappeared from view in an instant. Veronica let out a breath of relief. Finally, she had some peace. When she knocked on the hospital room door, there was no response. She waited for a while and confirmed that no one was there. Veronica sent a message to Ashton. He quickly replied, ¡°Something came up. The door¡¯s unlocked, so go in and wait. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± bit and politeness, Veronica sat on the bench outside the door. As she settled down, her mind k to the scene she¡¯d just encountered. ever must have broken, because hisplexion didn¡¯t look as terrible as it did in the photos. he was three, he¡¯d had a simr high fever thatsted a whole week. Veronica had been worried and spent days crying her eyes out. When medicine didn¡¯t work, she turned to spiritual remedies. She climbed up the mountain to the cathedral and prayed for a blessed charm for Samuel. Whether it was psychological or not, his fever actually broke shortly after. Later, Miriam let it slip that Samuel had been taking cold showers while they slept because he didn¡¯t want to go to kindergarten. It was a trick he¡¯d learned from Eleanor to skip ss. Looking back now, she really had been foolishly naive. Maybe from that moment, or even earlier, she had already be an outsider in that family. Meanwhile, Veronica¡¯s abrupt exit had caught the grouppletely off guard. Heath stared at the elevator doors like he was trying to burn a hole through them. Samuel stood there confused. He thought Veronica was there to see him, so why did she leave? He pouted pitifully, fighting back tears. On the other side, the public elevator doors opened, and Regina rushed out looking frantic. When she saw Samuel¡¯s pale face, she felt her heart ache terribly. ¡°Oh sweetie, you¡¯ve been through so much! Come here, let me see you!¡± ¡°Grandma!¡± Samuel burst into tears and stretched out his arms. So, Heath passed him to Regina¡¯s embrace. ¡°Mom doesn¡¯t want me anymore!¡± Samuel sobbed in Regina¡¯s arms. Heined about everything Veronica had done these past few days. ¡°She did what?¡± Regina¡¯s brows twitched in fury as she looked around. ¡°Where the hell is Veronica? Samuel¡¯s sick, and she¡¯s not here? What kind of mother is she?¡± Samuel cried even harder. Regina had always treated Samuel like the apple of her eye, and she was both heartbroken and furious.¡± That little bitch! If I don¡¯t teach her a proper lesson today, she¡¯ll think she can get away with anything! Where is she?¡± Heath frowned. ¡°Mom, she¡¯s still Samuel¡¯s mother. Please don¡¯t say things like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m your mother! You think I can¡¯t handle her? And stop defending that outsider!¡± Regina snapped. Heath finally gave in. ¡°She went upstairs.¡± ¡°The tenth floor? That¡¯s Mr. Fletcher¡¯s private suite. Strange¡­ What would Veronica be doing there?¡± Eleanor said casually. Heath¡¯s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing toward the elevator panel that showed the current floor. He thought, ¡°Veronica, you better not be doing what I think you¡¯re doing!¡± Regina growled, ¡°Someone like her wants to climb the socialdder? Marrying into our family was already winning the lottery. She should be thanking her lucky stars!¡± She waved off Eleanor¡¯s subtle remark without a second thought, dering confidently, ¡°She probably couldn¡¯t face us and ran up there by ident! Go drag her back down before she embarrasses herself in front of the Fletcher family!¡± Dangerous 21 Veronica received Ashton¡¯s message that he¡¯d be right there. Just then, the elevator¡¯s indicator light for the tenth floor lit up. However, as the elevator doors opened, her smile froze. ¡°Regina?¡± Veronica looked surprised at the group led by Regina. Since returning to Shalton, she hadn¡¯t seen Regina for many days. She knew her mother¨Cinw never liked her, always looking down on her for noting from a powerful enough family to be useful to Heath¡¯s career. After their marriage, when Veronica visited the Tate residence, Regina had made her kneel in the small family chapel all night. Later, whenever Regina was slightly displeased, she¡¯d make her kneel, even when Veronica was eight months pregnant. Heath never stopped it. Instead, when her knees were too painful to stand, he made her endure it further.¡± Just listen to her. Mom wouldn¡¯t punish you without reason.¡± At that time, he personally applied medicine to Veronica¡¯s legs. His rare tenderness had blinded Veronica, causing her to swallow all her bitterness. Only after Samuel and Miriam were born did Regina¡¯s attitude soften slightly, and she rarely made her kneel in the family chapel anymore. Veronica thought she might have a chance to earn Regina¡¯s approval. When Heath took the two children to Shalton, she stayed in Jouver to care for her inws. While everyone was gossiping behind her back about Heath and Eleanor being a perfect match, she was the only one left looking like some clueless, discarded wife. Veronica lowered her gaze, pulling herself out of those cold, bitter memories. Regina stormed up with fury written all over her face. Her brows arched sharply as she shouted, ¡± Veronica, get on your knees!¡± Veronica didn¡¯t move. She stared at Regina calmly and asked, ¡°Regina, what¡¯s going on?¡± There was no panic or guilt in her tone. Herposure only made Regina angrier, and thetter jabbed a finger toward her face. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Samuel¡¯s been burning up with a fever, and where the hell have you been? What kind of mother abandons her child? Get over here and get on your knees right now! If you don¡¯t exin yourself properly today, I swear I won¡¯t let this go!¡± She thought she must have been too kind to this bitch from a broken¨Cdown family these past two years, making her forget what lowly status she came from and daring to abandon Samuel and talk back. Veronica remained unmoved by her threats, a faint smile ying at her lips. ¡°Regina, why is it always kneeling with you? Who do you think you are, the Queen? Samuel has so many people watching over him. 1 Do you think I can perform miracles, and that he¡¯ll recover just by looking at me?¡± She nced at Samuel, who¡¯d been waiting eagerly for the drama. His eyes were still red and puffy, but he started to look a little guilty under her gaze. Samuel thought it was weird. Veronica was usually the one who feared Regina the most, and she was always following her orders. What was happening? ¡°Veronica, what kind of attitude is that?¡± Regina was shaking with rage at her sarcasm. If she didn¡¯t shut her down now, this bitch would think she could take over the entire Tate family one day. ¡°As long as you¡¯re still married into the Tate family, I¡¯m your mother¨Cinw! I even considered treating you like my own daughter! And this is how you repay me? You ingrate! ¡°Samuel¡¯s been in that hospital room for three whole days with a high fever. Even if you¡¯re useless, couldn¡¯t you at leaste to visit him once?¡± Veronica was unfazed by the emotional ckmail. Instead, her smile deepened as she replied, ¡°Regina, please, spare me the ¡®loving mother, perfect son¡® routine. Maybe you should take a good look in the mirror first. If this gets out, the entire Jouver is going to have a goodugh at your expense.¡± A loud smack suddenly rang out. Regina used all her strength to strike Veronica across the face. Her head snapped to the side, and five bright red finger marks instantly appeared on her pale cheek. It all happened too suddenly. Heath stepped forward and grabbed Regina¡¯s hand. ¡°Mom, what are you doing?¡± Samuel and Miriam were scared and speechless, but a sh of satisfaction crossed Eleanor¡¯s eyes. Veronica slowly turned her face back, using her fingertips to wipe away the blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. The icy sharpness in her eyes cut straight through everyone like a de. ¡°Regina, you¡¯re an elder and my mother¨Cinw, so I¡¯ll show you respect for thest time. If you want someone you can p around as you please, tell Heath to finalize the divorce fast.¡± Dangerous 22 Regina felt unsettled by Veronica¡¯s gaze and was momentarily stunned into silence. She wondered what the hell happened to this little bitch. It had only been a few days, but she seemed to have changed. Veronica said, ¡°By the way, why don¡¯t you ask Samuel and Heath why his feversted so long and just wouldn¡¯t break?¡± Veronica stood before the group with her arms crossed and her chin lifted slightly. Even with the brutal p mark on her face, her posture showed no trace of embarrassment or retreat. Upon hearing this, the expressions of both Heath and Samuel changed distinctly. Heath¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Watch your mouth.¡± Though he knew the inside story, Samuel was the future heir of the Tate family. This kind of thing wasn¡¯t suitable to discuss in this setting. Regina picked up on his hesitation. She quickly changed gears, clutching her chest and wailing dramatically. ¡°Heath! Look at this wonderful wife you chose! Divorce her. You have to divorce her!¡± Heath caught her as she pretended to be heartbroken, his expression turning sour. ¡°Veronica, do you have to make such a scene?¡± He didn¡¯t want this drama to continue and snapped coldly, ¡°Mom hit you, and that was wrong of her, but she¡¯s still your elder. Where¡¯s your usual courtesy and respect? Do you have to be so petty about everything?¡± Veronica wasn¡¯t surprised by this at all. Every single time she¡¯d had a conflict with Regina in the past, Heath had always stood by his mother¡¯s side. Even when he witnessed Reginaying hands on her, he¡¯d first restrain himself, then me both parties equally. Or rather, he¡¯d still pressure her to bow her head and apologize to Regina. And sure enough, he followed up with, ¡°Say sorry to Mom, and we¡¯ll be done with it.¡± Veronica simply stared at him, wondering how she could have been so blind these six years to tolerate everything for a man like this. Heath also felt ufortable under her stare. ¡°What are you looking at me like that for?¡± ¡°Checking if my eyes are still working,¡± she said. Heath was speechless. The two children were so frightened by this argument that they didn¡¯t dare say a word the entire time. Samuel tugged at Heath, mumbling, ¡°Dad, let¡¯s go back.¡± ¡°Yeah, Heath,¡± Eleanor chimed in gently. ¡°This floor¡¯s supposed to be private. Let¡¯s head downstairs and talk there.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Heath snapped out of it and nced at the closed hospital room. Tate Group had always focused on its business in Shalton, and its foundation in Jouver wasn¡¯t as deep- rooted as that of the local corporations. However, the Fletcher family was different from those established families that had hundred¨Cyear foundations. The Fletchers had moved their operations from overseas just a few decades ago. Yet, just within ten short years, they¡¯d imed the top spot among Jouver¡¯s four elite families. As he returned to Jouver to expand, Heath had hoped to build ties with them. However, he hadn¡¯t had the chance to visit yet, disturbed by one family drama after another. Still, he had to find a way to reason with Veronica. If she could just go back to being the quiet, obedient wife she used to be, he¡¯d be willing to give her a little more space. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Veronica didn¡¯t budge. The group waited for her, but Regina grew impatient. ¡°If she won¡¯t leave, let her wait to be thrown out by their security.¡± After cursing, she turned and pointed at the food containers on the bench. She said, ¡°Take the soup with you.¡± Veronica might not have been good for much else, but she really did make excellent soup. Heath saw nothing wrong with this. The soup was originally made specifically for Samuel anyway, and this would give her a way to recover her pride. He stepped forward and reached for the containers, but Veronica smacked his hand away. She pulled the containers to her chest. Her gaze was cold, and her voice was sharp as she said, ¡°Don¡¯t touch them.¡± Chapter 23 Dangerous 23 Chapter 23 Heath narrowed his eyes. Even when Regina had pped Veronica earlier, she hadn¡¯t reacted this strongly. But now? She was fighting him over the food containers. He frowned and tried to yank them from her arms. He was much stronger. Veronica clutched the food containers desperately. Her face, already swollen and red from the p, now turned even redder from the strain. She¡¯d rather feed this soup to dogs than let this group of people drink it. During the struggle, Heath lost his temper. ¡°Stop making a scene and let go!¡± Veronica clenched her teeth. However, she was no match for the man¡¯s strength, and the food containers were about to be pulled away. Suddenly, a pale, well¨Cdefined hand appeared and pressed the containers down. Along with it came a man¡¯s leisurely inquiry. ¡°Is this a food drive? Do you want me to set up a stall for you?¡± The struggle ended instantly. Veronica hugged the food containers that had nearly been knocked over, looking gratefully at the neer. Ashton had changed out of his hospital gown today and was wearing a ck trench coat, making his already tall frame even more imposing. When he wasn¡¯t speaking, his cold presence made it impossible to look him in the eye. Veronica looked away and lowered her head, shrinking back slightly. Ashton¡¯s gaze swept over the shocking handprint on her face, and his gaze darkened. Heath had released his grip the moment Ashton appeared. He silently sized up the man before him, g him somewhat familiar. As he wondered if this was the person who had saved Veronica at the al that day, he felt inexplicably annoyed. or¡¯s eyes moved between the group, and she gently stepped forward to take Heath¡¯s arm. ¡°You must Mr. Fletcher. We apologize for the disturbance. We¡¯ll leave right away.¡± That was when it clicked for Heath. He reached into his coat and handed Ashton a business card. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about you, Mr. Isaiah Fletcher,¡± The Fletcher family had two sons¨CIsaiah Fletcher, the older one, was known for being low¨Ckey but powerful. He was the real decision¨Cmaker behind the Fletcher empire. He was married with a daughter. The younger son, Ashton, was rarely in the country and seldom made news. Hence, Heath naturally assumed the man before him was Isaiah. Ashton casually nced at the business card and didn¡¯t bother to correct Heath¡¯s assumption about his identity. Instead, he said, ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s you. And this must be Mrs. Tate, the wife you keep hidden away like a treasure.¡± Eleanor blushed charmingly as she nestled against Heath¡¯s side. Ashton turned his head toward her, his eyes gleaming faintly with amusement. ¡°The way you protected Mrs. Tate that day in the hospital really left a deep impression on me. You two are truly devoted to each other.¡± Heath¡¯s expression froze. Ashton continued, ¡°Speaking of which, Ms. Dolton was quite unlucky. I saw that knife came within inches of piercing her heart.¡± Veronica listened from the side, and her rxed grip tightened again. The images from that day shed through her mind once more as she listened to Ashton¡¯s description. So, she really had almost died. Each ¡°innocent¡±ment from Ashton made Heath¡¯s expression turn uglier. Finally, Ashton asked as if just realizing, ¡°Wait¡­ You all know each other?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The unease in Heath¡¯s heart grew heavier, and he subtly distanced himself from Eleanor. ¡°Thanks for helping my wife that day, Mr. Fletcher. I¡¯ll make sure to thank you properly sometime.¡± Eleanor¡¯s smile froze for a moment, and her eyes began to shimmer with tears. ¡°Actually¡­ Mr. Fletcher, there¡¯s a misunderstanding. Heath and I are just friends. We¡¯ll let you rest now. Please excuse us.¡± Ashton raised a brow, feigning sudden understanding. The moment Eleanor turned and stepped into the elevator, tears began to fall. Miriam, anxious, tugged Heath¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Dad! Ms. Turner is crying. Go check on her!¡± Heath¡¯s bro bed. He nodded stiffly and gave a rushed farewell. ¡°Mr. Fletcher, we¡¯ll take our leave.¡± e elevator. dismissive chuckle. Regina and the kids scrambled to follow. This left Veronica alone at the scene. was long ustomed to being abandoned like this, and this had happened countless times. ngering pain on her face continued pulsing, making it impossible to ignore. Ashton stopped smiling and stared at the injury on her face. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to wait in the room? Why didn¡¯t you go in?¡± he asked coldly. William had just rushed back and stumbled upon this scene, wishing he could stuff himself back into the elevator. He silently cursed, ¡°Damn it! Mr. Fletcher didn¡¯t make it in time!¡± Chapter 24 Ashton teased, ¡°Standing there taking a beating wit Dangerous 24 Chapter 24 Ashton teased, ¡°Standing there taking a beating without fighting back? People who don¡¯t know better might think you have some unusual kink.¡± Veronica bit her lip, and her nose suddenly stung. She hadn¡¯t felt like crying when Regina pped her, and not even when Heath sided with Regina or left her standing there to chase after Eleanor. However, Ashton¡¯s words somehow struck a chord deep within her chest, and it made her heart ache. He probably thought she was just a walking burden. She sniffled and turned her head away, her eyes burning with heat. Well, he wasn¡¯t wrong. Every time they met, she¡¯d brought nothing but trouble. She mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Fletcher. I¡¯ve caused you enough trouble.¡± Ashton saw her gradually reddening eyes and silently scolded himself. What was he saying those things for? In that situation, how could she have had any choice in the matter? Off to the side, William was nearly breaking into a sweat. He thought, ¡°Come on, Mr. Fletcher! If you don¡¯t make a move now, when will you? Comfort her! Say something!¡± Ashton gathered his emotions, even straightening his posture. After a long moment, he finally spoke stiffly, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± William was dumbfounded. Well, there went Ashton¡¯s chance of winning Veronica over. Ashton looked at him, and William got the hint, quickly saying, ¡°I¡¯ll go grab some ointment for Ms. Dolton.¡± Just as Veroinca was about to refuse, Ashton turned and pushed open the hospital room door, which had been left slightly ajar. His tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek, and he let out a scoff. So, it wasn¡¯t locked. She just had too much respect for boundaries to go in without permission. ¡°The charity food drive is over. Are youing in now?¡± he asked. Veronica was caught off guard. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Ashton just called Heath a beggar. The bizarre image popped into her mind, and for a second, she nearlyughed. After pulling herself together, she picked up the soup and entered the hospital room. Just likest time, she set everything neatly on the coffee table. Ashton didn¡¯t say a word. He just sat on the couch and watched her in silence. However, the quiet felt awkward, and Veronica shifted ufortably. Soon, William returned with a tube of bruise ointment. Ashton rolled his wrist slowly while watching her apply it. She nced at his unwrapped hand and asked gently, ¡°Is the injury healing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s ruined for life,¡± he replied. Veronica¡¯s eyes flew open in rm. Before she could ask, he added, ¡°Well, maybe not that bad.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ I see.¡± She gave him an awkward smile. Who knew he had a sense of dry humor? Then, he said, ¡°It scarred.¡± Veronica tried to maintain a light tone. ¡°It can¡¯t be that bad, right?¡± Ashton chuckled softly, his usually cold eyes showing rare warmth. Veronica¡¯s heart, which had just settled, rose again with the man¡¯s words. ¡°Not really¡­ It did leave a scar.¡± He looked down, and his thick, longshes lowered, casting shadows under his eyes. Then, he opened his palm. His hand wasrge, with long fingers, well¨Cdefined knuckles, and neatly trimmed fingertips. What should have been the pampered hand of privilege actually had quite a few calluses on the palm. A dark brown scar was particrly visible along the dividing line of his thumb joint, running almost across his entire palm. Veronica was stunned. When he¡¯d caught the knife that day, he hadn¡¯t shown the slightest sign of pain. This injury was far more serious than she¡¯d imagined. Her eyes immediately reddened, her voice trembling with guilt as she said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know.¡± When he saw this, Ashton¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. It doesn¡¯t even hurt.¡± Dangerous 25 V hapter 25 Ashton clenched his hand, covering the scar as he gentlyforted Veronica. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll take responsibility for this,¡± Veronica said as her eyes reddened even more. William grumbled to himself, silently clicking his tongue. Ashton was actually using a scar from over ten years ago to deceive Veronica! Now that was some next- level maniption. He couldn¡¯t help but think he should¡¯ve just brought the reluctant Wanda over from her tooth extraction to witness Ashton¡¯s shameless act. ¡°How do you n to take responsibility?¡± Ashton smiled slightly as he reached out to wipe away the tear that was about to fall from her eye. Veronica turned her head away and quickly rubbed her eyes with her sleeve, missing his hand entirely. She mumbled, ¡°I¡¯ll save up and get you the best stic surgeon.¡® Ashton was stunned speechless, while William identally snorted out loud. He usually maintained great professionalposure, except when he couldn¡¯t help it. Veronica didn¡¯t notice Ashton¡¯s expression growing darker. She exined earnestly, ¡°Cosmetic scar treatments are pretty advanced now. I think there are some excellent specialists here in Jouver. I¡¯ll make sure to find the best one for Mr. Fletcher.¡± Ashton smiled without warmth. ¡°Ms. Dolton, you must be loaded. What a generous offer.¡± She seemed so eager to clear the debt and distance herself from him. What a heartlessdy. It seemed she really had forgotten about him. Veronica shook her head,pletely missing his sarcasm. ¡°I¡¯m not rich¡­ But I¡¯ll work hard to earn the money. I won¡¯t make you wait too long.¡± With the divorce looming, she had no intention of touching a single cent of Heath¡¯s money. She had to start earning faster. After all, scars were harder to treat the longer they stayed. Ashton saw the determination in her eyes, and he felt a sense of difort. He mumbled, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll wait.¡± ¡°Yeah. I won¡¯t be using Heath¡¯s money,¡± she added softly, worried he might misunderstand. ¡°No rush,¡± Ashton said casually as he picked up the bowl of soup and stirred it absentmindedly. If she wouldn¡¯t even use Heath¡¯s money, she must have been thoroughly disappointed in him. Ashton didn¡¯t show it, but he was secretly pleased with the thought. However, William noticed every little expression Ashton made. He was in awe of Veronica. With just a few lines, she had the ice¨Ccold Ashton nearly giggling like a schoolboy. ¡°Uncle Ashton! Uncle Ashton! I¡¯m telling Daddy on you! You said tooth extraction wouldn¡¯t hurt, but you lied!¡± Suddenly, a tearful, muffled voice sounded in the hospital room. Wanda was covering her swollen cheeks, her twin pigtails now a frizzy mess, and her eyes filled with righteous fury. ¡°Wanda?¡± Veronica called out. Wanda paused mid¨Crant. ¡°Ms. Pretty? What are you doing with Uncle Ashton?¡± With her missing front tooth making her lisp, she had to work extra hard just to sound coherent. That was when Veronica finally connected the dots. So, this was the same ¡®ridiculously handsome, marriage¨Chating, workaholic uncle¡® Wanda had talked about before. Veronica blinked, startled. Ashton ignored Wanda¡¯s earlier questioning and introduced them. ¡°Yes, this is my niece, Wanda Fletcher.¡± He made it clear she wasn¡¯t his daughter. Veronica suddenly remembered Wanda¡¯s story from the hospital. She said when Ashton was little, he once got into a barking match with a dog, and he actually won. When she imagined Ashton¡¯s intimidating, gorgeous face in that scenario, she couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. It was impossible to picture them as the same person. Ashton¡¯s gaze darkened slightly. However, the moment he caught that fleeting smile on Veronica¡¯s face, his mood also lifted. The next second, Wanda seized the opportunity and grabbed the extra serving of soup Veronica had prepared. After finishing it, she still wasn¡¯t satisfied. With a mischievous glint in her eyes, and being far too clever for her age, she said, ¡°Uncle Ashton, Ms. Pretty treated us to soup. Isn¡¯t there a saying that goes, ¡®I scratch your neck, you scratch mine?¡°¡± Ashton rubbed his temples. ¡°It¡¯s ¡®I scratch your back, you scratch mine.¡± Veronica burst outughing. Ashton looked at her and asked, ¡°Ms. Dolton, would you like to join us for dinner?¡± Wanda nodded frantically, her bright eyes looking at Veronica expectantly. Veronica couldn¡¯t bear to refuse and agreed with a smile. ¡°Alright.¡± While waiting for Ashton to change clothes, Veronica checked her phone messages and found that Heath had left her a message not long ago. ¡°Veronica, Chapter 26 Dangerous 26 Chapter 26 Heath had also texted, ¡°It¡¯s about the agreement. If you¡¯rete, there¡¯s no other chance.¡± Veronica gripped her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white. It seemed that he had received it after all. At least it hadn¡¯t gotten lost somewhere along the way. She let out a quiet sigh. After a long moment of hesitation, she waited until Ashton and Wanda finished changing clothes before apologetically saying goodbye to them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll treat you both next time.¡± Wanda tugged pitifully at the hem of her shirt. ¡°Ms. Pretty, is it something really important?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s very important.¡± Veronica gently stroked Wanda¡¯s cheek. Then, she turned to look at Ashton, biting the corner of her lip. ¡°I have to go, Mr. Fletcher. I¡¯ll figure out something about the surgery as soon as possible.¡± Ashton kept his eyes down, reading the documents in his hands. His sses reflected a cold light, giving him an air of unapproachability. He didn¡¯t say a word even as she left. William quietly screamed inside. ¡°Great. With that look, the whole office is probably getting overtime tonight!¡± Veronica rushed back to Hillside Vi. ¡°Mrs. Tate,¡± Derick and the housekeepers greeted her respectfully the moment she stepped in. They were in the middle of cleaning up puzzle pieces and building blocks that had been scattered all over the vi. When Veronica was around, she always made the two children clean up their toys. This kind of mess everywhere was a rare sight back then. They all missed the times when Veronica was there. Although she spoiled the two children, she wasn¡¯t indulgent to the point of having no boundaries, unlike Eleanor. Veronica nodded coolly. Along the way, she was somewhat surprised not to see the two children or Eleanor anywhere. She went up to the second floor and knocked on the study door. ¡°Come in,¡± Heath said. She stepped inside and got straight to the point. ¡°You¡¯ve read the agreement. Is there anything you want to amend?¡± Heath paused mid¨Csignature. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? I think we should sit down and talk. Our family shouldn¡¯t be like this.¡± Veronica cut him off, her tone steady. ¡°Heath, you never loved me, did you? If not for that ident, we never would¡¯ve gotten married.¡± She no longer hoped for any fantasy of a picture¨Cperfect family. She just wanted her freedom. Heath studied her, and he realized he might¡¯ve never understood the woman before him. Still, he figured it wasn¡¯t toote and that there was plenty of time. He put down the pen and adjusted his tone, saying, ¡°I think items one and four need to be renegotiated.¡± Veronica recalled the contents of the divorce agreement. The first use was her request to keep Lakeshore Estate and the South Belmont property. One had originally belonged to her parents, until her uncle sold it behind their backs and Heath ended up buying it. The other was the apartment she and Heath had lived in before marriage. She wasn¡¯t asking for any other assets. Deep down, she knew she wasn¡¯t asking for much. The fourth use was about her voluntarily giving up custody of the two children. However, she would visit them once a month. She couldn¡¯t understand what was unreasonable about that. ¡°You think it¡¯s too much?¡± Veronica frowned. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t have much time to keep running home. The first use asks for too much,¡± he said as he stared at her face, where the swelling had gone down. There were still some red marks, but they painted her in a haunting yet broken beauty. He tugged at his tie and added, ¡°As for the fourth use¡­ Are you sure you can handle it?¡± onica hadn¡¯t expected him to be so unreasonable. The apartment was indeed closer to thepany, e hadn¡¯t been there once since they got married. As for the two children, she had already given up e. But she was their mother, and this one request was only about wanting to see them grow up. Veronica¡¯s eyes stung as she made a difficult concession. ¡°Heath, I canpromise on the first use, but the fourth use is non¨Cnegotiable.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± A small smirk tugged at Heath¡¯s lips. He got up, opened the safe, and pulled out a slightly yellowed document, cing it in front of her. Veronica¡¯s eyelid twitched as she realized something didn¡¯t feel right. When she saw clearly what agreement¡± he had handed her, it wasn¡¯t the divorce agreement she had sent at all. It was the prenuptial agreement she had naively drafted with Heath six years ago. Dangerous 27 Veronica grabbed the yellowed paper, and her lips trembled slightly. Before marrying Heath, she had been full of hope for their marriage. Even though he was cold toward her, she believed that one day, the ice would melt. Back then, she was young and naive, seeking online advice on how to win a man¡¯s heart. Everyone had their own opinions to share. In the end, she had handwritten this document word by word. It was supposed to be a ¡°prenuptial agreement¡°, but it was really more like a couple¡¯s rulebook. ¡°use One: The husband must initiate three hugs with the wife every day.¡± ¡°use Two: The husband must kiss the wife¡¯s forehead whenever leaving the house.¡± ¡°use Three: The husband mustpliment the wife sincerely once a day.¡± ¡°use Four: Have sex at least four times a week.¡± Veronica couldn¡¯t bring herself to read any further. Mortification surged through her, and she wanted to crawl into a hole and die. Was Heath seriously pulling this out now? ¡°This is the agreement you were in such a rush to sign?¡± Veronica stared at him in disbelief, wondering if he¡¯d made some kind of mistake. Back then, when she¡¯d handed this to him, he¡¯d barely nced at it before tossing it in the trash. She still remembered his look of pure disgust as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t ever bring this kind of trash to me again.¡± Veronica couldn¡¯t understand it. Why had Heath retrieved it from the safe? Moreover, she was certain this was her handwriting from all those years ago. ¡°Of course,¡± Heath said calmly, nodding slightly as his eyes glinted. He stood and walked toward her. ¡°Isn¡¯t this what you always wanted? I¡¯m willing to meet some of your requests, within reason.¡± He added, ¡°But you need to stop ying those push¨Cand¨Cpull games. Don¡¯t drag the kids, family, or outsiders into your theatrics. I have no interest in continuing to y along with you.¡± Heath pressed down on her shoulders, his gaze growing more intense. ¡°Sign this agreement, and this charade ends here. Move back home tonight, and we¡¯ll start fulfilling the contract.¡± A chill ran down her spine as she jerked his hand away. ¡°Heath, you really think all this is some kind of emotional game?¡± Heath maintained his haughty attitude. ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°There has never been a moment when you¡¯ve disgusted me more,¡± Veronica said with a sneer. He lured her back with a vague divorce agreement, then pulled this bait¨Cand¨Cswitch with a fake prenup- offering it like a gift, just to humiliate her. It was revolting. Veronica gripped the old, yellowed paper and tore it into shreds. The temperature in the room dropped instantly. Heath¡¯s voice turned icy, and he barely held back his temper. ¡°What the hell is wrong with you? I¡¯m being generous with you, not for you to walk all over me!¡± She didn¡¯t bother wasting another breath. Hands shaking with fury, she grabbed her bag and stormed out. If he refused to sign, fine. Once they¡¯d lived apart long enough, she¡¯d file for divorce on her own. Heath was burning with anger and shouted after her, ¡°Veronica! If you dare take one step out that door, don¡¯t you ever think abouting back!¡± He truly couldn¡¯t understand why she was throwing such a tantrum when he had already made such a huge concession. However, Veronica didn¡¯t look back and quickened her pace. Heath mmed his fist down hard on the desk. She wanted to be stubborn? That was fine with him. He¡¯d see just how far his strong¨Cwilled wife could hold out! Outside the door, two little heads were pressed against the entrance, eavesdropping. ¡°Is Mom moving back home? If shees back, what about Ms. Turner?¡± ¡°They seem to be fighting. They sound so scary.¡± The moment Veronica stormed out, still fuming, the two kids fell backward from the momentum of leaning too close. The kids shouted in rm, but she quickly grabbed them both by their cors, saving them from falling. Chapter 28 Dangerous 28 Chapter 28 Veronicaposed herself and set the children down on the ground. ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± Her gaze fell on the white paper scraps scattered on Miriam¡¯s head. She instinctively raised her hand, but the little girl jerked away like a prickly hedgehog, defensively backing away. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare hit me!¡± Miriam red at Veronica with a frown. Eleanor once told them a story about a woman who, unloved by her husband, secretly hurt her children to gain his attention. She would either make them sick or injured just to get sympathy. Miriam thought Veronica¡¯s behavior now resembled that of the crazy woman from the story. Veronica opened her mouth to say something. Yet, when she saw the wary, guarded expressions on their faces, her words crumbled into a bitter smile. They were afraid of her. As a mother, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that she had failed spectacrly. Miriam and Samuel had already entered defense mode, waiting for Veronica tosh out so they could scream for help. Instead, they watched her walk away without another word. The two children werepletely puzzled. ¡°Samuel, she really just left like that? That¡¯s weird.¡± Samuel¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Wait¡­ Isn¡¯t she heading toward Ms. Turner¡¯s room?¡± Eleanor had just been discharged from the hospital and had taken on a filming job, so she wasn¡¯t home. She was still shamelessly upying Veronica¡¯s room. Veronica pushed open the door, and the overwhelming scent of women¡¯s perfume made her wrinkle her nose. The once cozy bedroom had beenpletely transformed with expensive furniture recing everything. Even the walls had been painted with bright, glossy paint. The only thing that remained the same was the family photo frame on the desk. However, the woman in the picture was no longer her. It was Eleanor. She picked up the photo album when a small body mmed into her from behind. ¡°Mom! How can you juste in and touch Ms. Turner¡¯s stuff while she¡¯s out? That¡¯s so rude!¡± Samuel shouted with righteous fury. Veronica clutched her aching stomach, feeling a chill spread through her heart. ¡°Sam, this is my room.¡± Miriam followed close behind. ¡°But aren¡¯t you getting divorced from Daddy? You don¡¯t want us anymore! So, you¡¯re not part of the Tate family, and this room doesn¡¯t belong to you anymore!¡± Veronica¡¯s chest tightened with rage. These were the two little ingrates she had devoted herself to raising with such care for five years. She supported herself against her waist and looked at the painting hanging on the wall. At least Heath hadn¡¯tpletely lost his conscience by actually giving the painting to Eleanor to take to her film set. Otherwise, she might¡¯ve actually gone off the rails. Veronica moved to the painting and gritted her teeth as she stepped onto a stool, preparing to take it down. ¡°Mom, stop it!¡± Samuel shouted, violently shaking the stool. ¡°That belongs to Ms. Turner. You can¡¯t touch it!¡± Miriam screamed and lunged over to grab Veronica around the waist, pulling her backward. In the struggle, Veronica¡¯s already sore back hurt even more. To protect the painting, she lost her bnce and fell hard off the stool. The ss covering the painting shattered, scattering pieces everywhere. The moment the ident happened, Samuel and Miriam both jumped back to safety. When he saw Veronica lying among the ss shards, they were stunned with fear. Soon, Heath was drawn by the loudmotion. When he discovered Veronica lying in a pool of blood, his heart skipped a beat. ¡°What happened?¡± he asked. Miriam nervously nudged Samuel. Samuel didn¡¯t dare tell the truth either, so he lied, ¡°Mom was trying to get that painting and fell off the stool herself.¡± Heath lifted her from the pool of blood and angrily threw the painting she was clutching far away. ¡°Was one painting worth all this?¡± However, all he got in response was the sight of the woman lying quietly with her eyes closed. A wave of panic surged through him. ¡°Veronica, if you dare die on me, I swear I¡¯ll make sure you never see your parents again, even in the afterlife!¡± Dangerous 29 Heath had lost count of how many times he¡¯d stepped into the hospitaltely. At the hospital, the doctor, Joel Smith, updated Heath on Veronica¡¯s condition. ¡°Mrs. Tate hit the back of her head on the ground, and a piece of ss barely missed slicing past her eyelid. If it had gone deeper, her left eye would have been ruined.¡± Heath stood there silently, his gaze dark and unreadable. He always thought Veronica¡¯s most beautiful feature had been her eyes. They were alluring but never vulgar, and asionally lit with innocence. Once one saw them, they¡¯d never forget them. Yet, she was foolish enough to go to such lengths for a single painting. Was it really worth it? When Eleanor finished filming, she immediately learned what had happened. Samuel and Miriam hade to her hand¨Cin¨Chand, shaken and tearful. They also confessed the real reason Veronica ended up unconscious. After hearing the full story, Eleanor nearly burst with joy inside. She silently squealed, ¡°Veronica, oh Veronica! You¡¯ve raised such a wonderful pair of children.¡± Still, Eleanor deliberately put on a serious face and said, ¡°Mira, Sam¡­ I can¡¯t protect you this time. What you did was truly wrong.¡± ¡°M¨CMs. Turner, we didn¡¯t mean to! We were just thinking that you really liked that painting, so we tried to stop her!¡± Miriam buried her face in Eleanor¡¯s embrace, crying. A hint of disgust shed in her eyes, but more than that, she was afraid. These idiot kids had nearly dragged her down with them. She¡¯d wed her way to where she was, and there was no way she was letting these two brats ruin everything. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. You two need to go back to Shalton and find Great¨CGrandpa,¡± Eleanor whispered, giving the children advice. Veronicay unconscious for three days and nights. When she opened her eyes, the harsh light from the ceiling made her squint ufortably. The hospital room was filled with a circle of people, young and old, men and women. Leading them was Reynard, his hair silvered and neatlybed, dressed in a tailored suit. Although he was in his 60s, his gaze remained sharp. When he saw her wake up, his stern face softened with warmth, and he quickly stepped forward.¡± Veronica, you¡¯re awake?¡± ¤¯ A crowd of people gathered around her. Reynard eximed, ¡°She¡¯s awake! Are you okay? How do you feel? Quick, get Dr. Smith! Veronica, you have no idea how worried everyone was during the day you were unconscious.¡± The room was filled with a chaotic chorus of voices. Veronica¡¯s throat felt dry. With all the chatter around her, her head throbbed painfully. She couldn¡¯t speak. Off to the side, Regina sneered. ¡°Well, that¡¯s what you get for ignoring Samuel. Now that you¡¯re awake, good. Let¡¯s move on.¡± Reynard scolded her sharply. ¡°Regina, will it kill you to say less?¡± Regina protested reluctantly. ¡°Reynard!¡± She didn¡¯t understand what she¡¯d said wrong. Nheless, with one warning re from Reynard, she mped her mouth shut. At the same time, the two children approached the hospital bed. Miriam wrung her little hands nervously. ¡± Mom, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Samuel also hung his head, his voice trembling. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Veronica¡¯s gaze remained calm, and she didn¡¯t respond. Reynard sighed softly and said, ¡°Veronica, I know you¡¯ve been wronged. The children already know they messed up. They shouldn¡¯t have just stood by when you were trying to get the painting, then shifted the me.¡± ¡°This time, they came to me on their own. They even went to the cathedral to pray for your recovery. You three are still family. Blood is thicker than water. You¡¯re awake now, so let¡¯s let this go, okay?¡± Calvin, who was also present, didn¡¯t like hearing this at all. ¡°Mr. Tate Senior, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s fair. Are you saying the Tate family can¡¯t even afford a single decent stool? Veronica barely stepped on it, and she fell!¡± Calvin had received the call about Veronica¡¯s ident early on. He didn¡¯t believe Veronica would be so careless as to fall, especially when she was trying to retrieve the painting that Malcolm had given her. Chapter 30 Dangerous 30 Chapter 30 Calvin knew Veronica¡¯s personality well¨Cshe was always cautious. There was definitely something fishy about all of this. However, before Calvin could demand answers from the Tate family, Reynard had already flown in personally from Shalton. He brought the kids with him, spun a few speeches, and even¨Chanded Stewart a fat check. Then, that old bastard took the money and ran without hesitation. Calvin didn¡¯t dare tell Malcolm about any of this. Worried sick, he had been keeping watch at the hospital until now. Reynard¡¯s sharp eyes glinted with calction. ¡°Calvin, we¡¯re all family here. The kids already admitted their mistakes, and they¡¯re still Veronica¡¯s flesh and blood. Maybe¡­ we should let her decide what to do.¡± Later, Heath arrived at the hospital room, apanied by Joel. When he saw that Veronica was awake, his face lit up with joy. But then he watched as Veronica grabbed Calvin¡¯s hand, her eyes full of confusion and bewilderment. ¡°Calvin, who are these people?¡± she asked. That single sentence struck the hospital room like a bolt from the blue. Regina couldn¡¯t take it anymore. ¡°Veronica, what are you pretending for? You can ignore us, but Miriam and Samuel are your children!¡± ¡°I have kids? Ma¡¯am, what kind of joke is that?¡± Veronica acted as if she¡¯d heard the most ridiculous thing in the world. She added, ¡°I just heard you all saying that they watched me get hurt and didn¡¯t even try to help. Are they really rted to me? That¡¯s so disgusting. I¡¯d rather get my tubes tied than have them as my children.¡± The hospital room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop. Miriam and Samuel wanted to cry but didn¡¯t re. They were sad that Veronica didn¡¯t remember them, but they also secretly prayed in their hearts that e wouldn¡¯t remember what happened yesterday. Heath lost his temper, snapping, ¡°Dr. Smith, what is going on?¡± Joel stayed calm. ¡°She hit the back of her head when she fell. Memory confusion ismon with this kind of trauma. It¡¯s a typical posta reaction. I rmend you all avoid stressing her further as it could worsen the condition.¡± Everyone gasped in shock, realizing she really had lost her memory. Reynard stayed quiet for a long moment before speaking. ¡°Alright, everyone out. Veronica needs rest.¡± With his word, the room emptied quickly. Only Heath and Calvin stayed behind. Heath stared intently at Veronica¡¯s uninjured eye, trying to detect any clues. ¡°It¡¯s just us now. If you¡¯re upset, you can tell me.¡± Veronica rolled her eyes, sniffed a little, and frowned. ¡°Who are you supposed to be again?¡± Heath¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°I¡¯m your husband.¡± ¡°No way. Are my standards really that bad?¡± She turned to Calvin, clearly disturbed. Calvin casually stuffed his hands into his pockets. ¡°He¡¯s lying. Don¡¯t believe a word he says.¡± Heath¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Calvin, are you seriously ying along with her right now?¡± ¡°Mr. Tate, weren¡¯t you just told by Dr. Smith not to provoke her?¡± Calvin shot back, raising his voice. In the end, Heath bit his tongue and stormed out of the room. Calvin poured a cup of warm water for Veronica. She took small sips, then muttered, ¡°Calvin, don¡¯t let Grandpa find out about this.¡± ¡°You remember something?¡± Calvin asked carefully. Veronica tapped her temple and shook her head. ¡°I remember everything. The Tate family is disgusting. Heath refuses to sign the divorce agreements, and I don¡¯t want those kids anymore either.¡± She could still feel that moment when they pulled her off the stool like she meant nothing. They didn¡¯t even consider any consequences or the fact that she was their mother. It was attempted murder, in and simple. obvious that Reynard had made this special trip specifically to protect them. She now understood hat it meant when they said ¡°The apple did not fall far from the tree¡°. They were all rotten to the nica gave a bitter smile. ¡°Once I¡¯ve been separated from Heath long enough to file for divorce, I¡¯ll file thewsuit. Help me keep this secret, okay, Calvin?¡± Calvin¡¯s heart ached as he looked at the girl who had once been so innocent, now pushed to this point. He mumbled, ¡°Veronica, this is my fault too. Back then, if I didn¡¯t-¡± 1 im Bonus For Free Every Day>> im Chapter 31 Dangerous 31 ¡°Calvin, this whole thing really has nothing to do with you,¡± Veronica interrupted him, shaking her head gently. ¡°I just want to live my own life now. I don¡¯t want to think about anything else.¡± She knew Calvin had been ming himself for going abroad early all these years. Her parents¡® death had been too sudden, and the days she spent living with Stewart¡¯s family weren¡¯t his fault either. Even so, he always felt that he could have protected her from so much bullying if he hadn¡¯t gone abroad back then. Calvin let out a sigh. ¡°Alright, do whatever you want.¡± At the Tate residence, Reynard sat at the head of the room, while Heath kneeled stiffly on the floor. ¡°Heath, you better give me a good exnation. Why is that woman living in your marital home and sleeping in Veronica¡¯s room? In this entire city, is our family the only shelter left?¡± Reynard mmed his hand heavily on the mahogany table. He was so furious that his chest heaved with every breath. Back in Shalton, rumors about them had spread like wildfire, and he had lectured Heath more than once about this. Yet, as soon as they returned to Jouver, this scandalous mess had erupted. ¡°What did you promise me back then?¡± Reynard questioned. Heath¡¯s lips were pressed into a tight line as he kneeled on the ground, his back straight and unyielding. Just then, Eleanor stumbled into the room, tears streaming down her face. Reynard saw her and roared, ¡°Who let you in?¡± She choked back tears and said, ¡°Mr. Tate Senior, please calm down. I wasn¡¯t feeling well, so Heath took pity on me and let me stay in Veronica¡¯s room. Please don¡¯t me him or the children. This is all my fault.¡± Heath finally spoke up. ¡°Eleanor, what are you talking about? You know medicine, and I asked you to help care for the kids. That¡¯s the only reason you stayed in Veronica¡¯s room. This has nothing to do with you.¡± Reynard let out a cold chuckle. ¡°Wow. You two really have the nerve to put on a show in front of me now? Heath, you¡¯re still protecting this woman?¡± Eleanor trembled as she pped herself hard across the face. Blood appeared at the corner of her mouth, making her look even more pitiful. She said, ¡°Mr. Tate Senior, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve shamed the Tate family. I¡¯ll pack up and leave Jouver tonight, never bothering you all again.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Heath pulled Eleanor into his arms, shielding her protectively. ¡°Grandpa, Eleanor didn¡¯t do anything wrong. I was the one who let her stay.¡± Miriam burst into tears and threw herself in front of Eleanor with open arms. ¡°Great¨CGrandpa, please don¡¯t make Ms. Turner leave!¡± The entire room fell into a deadlock, and Reynard looked like he was about to pass out from rage. ¡°Look at this! Miriam is already corrupted by her! Her real mother is still lying in bed, and she¡¯s already treating this bitch like her own!¡± ¡°Grandpa, that was uncalled for,¡± Heath said, frowning as he stood and held Eleanor¡¯s hand. ¡°If we really want to trace things back, you¡¯re the one who owes the Dolton family a debt, not me.¡± He spoke every word with quiet force. Yet, the weight behind them was undeniable. Suddenly, a porcin teacup smashed against Heath¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Heath!¡± Eleanor immediately threw herself in front of him, and the teacup struck her slender neck. ¡°You ungrateful brat! Swear to God right now! Are you seriously telling me you never had feelings for Veronica?¡± Reynard demanded. Heath looked at the woman in his arms with eyes full of heartache and answered firmly, ¡°Never.¡± Seven years ago, he had first met Veronica at a graduation party. She had been dazzling and captivating in the crowd. Indeed, he had drawn closer to her out of momentary curiosity. However, that was just the kind of mistake any man might make. It wasn¡¯t until Reynard announced the arranged engagement, and it turned out to be Veronica, that he realized their entire encounter had been a setup. Her maniptions weren¡¯t worthy of his love. Everything that followed, his marriage to her, was all transactional. He wanted an heir, and she wanted the title of Mrs. Tate. They were just using each other. or had been devoted to him all these years, never asking for anything in return, so ng it broke his heart. rageous, you brat! Is being the Tate family heir such a burden to you? If you don¡¯t want it, others do!¡± Reynard mmed the table again. Heath held Eleanor tightly. ¡°Do as you please.¡± With that, he left with her in tow. He was no longer that powerless son from the second wife, who had no connections and was ignored by everyone. He had taken over thergest privatepany in Shalton in just three years. Chapter 32 Dangerous 32 hapter 32 Heath had enough leverage now. He believed Reynard would never sacrifice the entire future of the Tate family or his own grandson just to repay an old, vague debt he could barely remember the date of. Meanwhile, at the hospital. Veronica suddenly let out a loud sneeze, and she couldn¡¯t help but wonder who was thinking about her. Just then, Courtney burst into the hospital room like a whirlwind. ¡°Veronica!¡± She rushed toward her, wanting to hug her. However, she stopped short when she saw how battered Veronica looked, especially that injured eye and her hands. Both were devastating blows for a designer. ¡°Courtney, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m okay,¡± Veronica said, waving her hand as she tried to reassure her. However, upon examining her current state, she realized her words weren¡¯t very convincing. Courtney took this as her being stubborn and tough. After sending Calvin away, Veronica spoke with Courtney privately for a while. When Courtney brought up the new design that Veronica had just submitted, her face finally lit up a little.¡± The client loved your work. Once you¡¯re discharged, they might want to meet with you personally to talk about the project.¡± Even after six years away from design, Veronica was still the most talented designer she¡¯d ever encountered. Veronica smiled. ¡°Great, I can exin it to them myself.¡± The VIP room door opened as a nurse¡¯s voice called out. ¡°Ms. Dolton, time for your medication change.¡± As the door opened, a figure seemed to sh by quickly. Veronica gently rubbed the corner of her eye. However, there was nothing outside the door. She dismissed it, thinking it must¡¯ve been her imagination. In the hospital¡¯s admin office, Ashton stared silently at Veronica¡¯s medical file. Joel finished reviewing her medical records and calmly added, ¡°Mr. Fletcher, we¡¯ve followed your instructions and covered up the fact that Ms. Dolton isn¡¯t actually suffering from memory loss. ¡°The Tate family does seem to be digging around, trying to confirm whether she remembers anything from before the ident.¡± ¡°If she wants to y games, let them all y along.¡± Ashton ran his fingers over the scar in his palm. His eyes betrayed no emotion. He had only left for a few days to clean house, and when he came back, Veronica was lying unconscious in a hospital bed. He genuinely didn¡¯t know what she was even hoping to gain from this marriage anymore. ¡°Mr. Tate, we¡¯vepleted the investigation. Mrs. Tate did indeed suffer brain trauma, and her amnesia appears to be genuine,¡± Walter reported. He had taken Veronica¡¯s medical records to a private doctor who had worked with Tate Group for years and found nothing suspicious. Heath¡¯s reaction was calm. ¡°I see.¡± Had he really been wrong about this? Honestly, if Veronica had truly forgotten everything, that wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing. Still, the ident couldn¡¯t be entirely the children¡¯s fault. Due to this incident, Reynard had taken Samuel away, stripping Heath of custody rights to raise the boy himself. A monthter, Veronica¡¯s body had almost fully recovered. She was going stir¨Ccrazy from being cooped ¨²p. Even so, Calvin insisted she stay in the hospital until her injuries werepletely healed. Courtney visited her regrly and was eagerly anticipating her formal return to thepany once she recovered. Veronica was thrilled about it. During this time, members of the Tate family visited her a few times and evenpensated her with a vi in Montir Heights, which was transferred to her name. She was quite satisfied with this arrangement. Veronica snorted softly when she heard that Reynard had taken Samuel away. Hopefully, he wouldn¡¯t grow up to be an ungrateful brat like Heath. After obtaining the hospital¡¯s approval for discharge, she quickly changed into fresh clothes. Calvin had been out of town on business for the past two days, so she didn¡¯t make him take another trip. She had something more important to do, like meeting with the sports brand client she was supposed to have seen a month ago, who was scheduled for dinner tonight. Courtney had told Veronica about this two days earlier. So, afterpleting her discharge paperwork, she headed straight to the scheduled meeting at Nexus Club. The first¨Cfloor elevator was under maintenance, and since Veronica was worried about beingte, she took the side staircase up. As she reached the third¨Cfloornding, she suddenly heard two menughing lecherously. ¡°Drop this stuff in her tea, and I guarantee thatdy will be begging for it!¡± MONTEBENE Chapter 33 Dangerous 33 Chapter 33 ¡°Isn¡¯t she an actress? Would we get into trouble?¡± someone asked. ¡°Nah, Mr. Lane already said he¡¯s covering for this. As long as we don¡¯t kill her, we can do whatever we want.¡± ¡°Hell yeah! I¡¯ve never messed around with a celebrity before. Man, just thinking about some morous actress from TV getting wrecked behind closed doors? I¡¯m already pumped!¡± ¡°She¡¯s almost at 303. Let¡¯s go.¡± The two men¡¯s disgusting chatter gradually faded down the hallway. Veronica gripped the stair rail tightly as a cold sweat broke out along her spine. She had heard how dark the entertainment industry could be, but she never imagined it could sink this low. However, she was barely surviving herself now. She didn¡¯t have the power to save anyone. Veronica took a deep breath. She tried to shake off what she had just overheard, forcing herself not to get involved. She nced at the floor n posted on the wall. Room 303 was a corner suite on the third floor, tucked away from foot traffic. Meanwhile, her meeting with the sportswear brand was scheduled for Room 310, conveniently at the opposite end of the hall. After going upstairs, Veronica frowned as she stared at the tightly closed door of Room 303 from a distance. Then, a tall, graceful silhouette appeared in her line of sight, stopping outside Room 303 and knocking on the door. Even with the mask, those striking eyes and signature height made her easy to recognize¨Cit was Jocelyn Tillman, the rising star who¡¯d just led a breakout mystery series. Veronica had crossed paths with her once before. A year ago, in the early hours of the morning, she had received a text from Heath¡¯s childhood friend, Archie Lane. He had asked her to pick Heath up from a bar. When she arrived, she caught Heath sitting in a private booth, gently holding Eleanor and murmuring to her in the softest, most tender voice. For the first time, Veronica nearly lost control. She grabbed a drink, ready to throw it in their faces. Yet, before she could, someone sshed her with a cold ss of alcohol from across the room. Archie appeared, holding the empty wine ss with a smirk. ¡°Do you see it now? What doesn¡¯t belong to you, no matter how you chase it, will never be yours.¡± Only then did Veronica realize the whole thing was a setup. There was never any drunk Heath waiting for her; it was just another one of Archie¡¯s twisted games. She let out augh. Archie narrowed his eyes. ¡°What the hell are youughing at?¡± ¡°I¡¯mughing at you, you desperate littlepdog.¡± With that, Veronica threw her drink right in his face. She ignored his furious shouting and stormed out. At the doorway, she ran into Jocelyn. That night, Jocelyn had been wearing a mask too, her eyes full of concern. She handed Veronica a silk scarf and said, ¡°I think you might need this.¡± Three monthster, Veronica heard a rumor that Jocelyn and Archie were dating. She could only sigh at how this industry really was a small, twisted circle. But even so, Jocelyn had been one of the rare few who¡¯d ever shown her kindness. Veronica didn¡¯t hesitate anymore. She looked down at her phone and dialed 911. Jocelyn hadn¡¯t slept properly in three days, as she was caught up in the whirlwind of filming an intensete -night shoot. The moment she wrapped up, she received a message from her boyfriend, Archie, asking her to meet his family. ¡°Hi, are you Archie¡¯s family?¡± The private room contained only two overweight, greasy middle¨Caged men who, despite wearing suits, couldn¡¯t hide their sleazy demeanor. However, Archie was nowhere to be seen. There was no sign of Archie. One of them rubbed his hands and stood up eagerly, saying, ¡°We¡¯re Archie¡¯s uncles. You must be Jocelyn Tillman.¡± ¡°Yes, nice to meet you,¡± Jocelyn replied, removing her mask and hiding the suspicion in her eyes. Chapter 34 Dangerous 34 Chapter 34 ¡°Come, Jocelyn, have a seat right here. This is freshly brewed tea. Give it a try,¡± one of the men said. Jocelyn smiled sweetly as she subtly pushed the teacup away. ¡°Sorry, sir, I¡¯m allergic to tea. I can¡¯t drink it. Bruce Taint and Frank Taint¡¯s smiles froze as they exchanged nces. Archie hadn¡¯t mentioned this! Was Jocelyn just trying to mess with them? Bruce quickly lost his temper. ¡°Bitch! I poured it myself, and you¡¯re ying games with me? Drink it now!¡± Jocelyn¡¯s smile disappeared, and she stood up to leave. However, they rushed over to grab her, pulling out a pre¨Cprepared drug and spraying it at her face. ¡°Miss, are you sure your belongings were stolen and the thief ran into this room?¡± Veronica nodded. ¡°Our club has tight security. We don¡¯t allow criminals through our doors,¡± said the assistant manager, Brody Solomon, trying to reason with her. After all, their club operated on a membership basis and wasn¡¯t somewhere just anyone could waltz into. If Veronica weren¡¯t a member, they would have sent her away already. Veronica crossed her arms and stood outside Room 303, tilting her chin. ¡°Since you¡¯re so confident, call everyone inside so I can see them. I remember that thief¡¯s face. If he¡¯s not there, I¡¯ll personally apologize to them and pay for all their expenses today.¡± Based on those two men¡¯s earlier discussion, they probably had backing. If she told the club the real situation to get them to open the door, they might stall for time and cover things up together. So, she told an outrageous lie, iming her purse was stolen while going upstairs and that the male thief had rushed into Room 303. The staff gave her a weird look at first, but when she pulled out her ck card, they took her seriously and called in Brody. Veronica added, ¡°Oh, and bring a few security guards. If the thief runs and ends up hurting other guests, I doubt they¡¯ll be as polite as I am.¡± Brody had no choice but toply. With that, he called in several guards. They knocked on the door, but no one answered at first. But he was sure that room was upied tonight. They knocked again, waiting a few more seconds. Then, a man¡¯s angry voice came from inside. ¡°Get lost! Knock again and I¡¯ll kill you!¡± ¡°Help me!¡± After the man¡¯s explosive shout, a weak female voice crying for help could be heard. Everyone outside went pale. Veronica¡¯s expression turned cold. ¡°What are you all waiting for? Waiting until they rob and murder someone?¡± Brody was sweating bullets. He quickly pulled out a backup key and opened the door. The moment it swung open, Veronica grabbed a flower vase from the entryway and stormed in. The two men were frantically trying to pull their pants back up. She hurled the vase at them, and while they scrambled to dodge it, she rushed to the couch to check on Jocelyn. Her face was bruised, and her outer clothing was torn. Fortunately, it seemed they hadn¡¯t gone that far yet. Veronica¡¯s anxious heart rxed slightly. She took off her own jacket and draped it over Jocelyn. Jocelyn¡¯s sobbing suddenly grew louder. Veronica patted her back andforted her, ¡°Everything¡¯s fine now. I already called the police.¡± The two men had been restrained by the security guards. When Brody heard Veronica had called the police, his expression immediately turned extremely unsightly. Only then did he realize he¡¯d been yed. He questioned with a dark expression, ¡°Miss, what exactly is the meaning of this?¡± Veronica looked up, her voice calm and measured. ¡°What, drugging and attempting to rape women is a me up? ¡°Sorry, but the police should be arriving any minute now. Even if you want to cover for these two rapists, you¡¯d better consider which side you should be on.¡± Brody¡¯s face turned pale as he realized Veronica came fully prepared. Chapter 35 Dangerous 35 apter 35 The arrested Bruce and Frank¡¯s legs instantly went weak. After all, they had just gotten out of prison. Moreover, Archie swore this would be foolproof. As long as they slept with Jocelyn, he¡¯d guarantee them a worry¨Cfree life. ¡°I want to see your boss! I want to see Mr. Lane!¡± Bruce struggled against the security guards¡® restraints, shouting loudly. Themotion from the private room had already attracted many passing guests. When Brody heard Archie¡¯s name mentioned, he turned pale before his expression darkened. He immediately barked, ¡°Cover his mouth!¡± Soon, police and paramedics arrived one after another. Veronica helped Jocelyn into the ambnce. She said, ¡°Your manager will be at the hospital soon. Don¡¯t be scared.¡± Jocelyn was in tears. ¡°Thank you.¡± Veronica shook her head gently. ¡°Call me if you need me to testify.¡± ding Jocelyn off, her client meeting time was approaching. She always made it a habit to arrive our early, so fortunately, she still had some buffer time. She quickened her pace toward the room, but a tall figure blocked her path just as she was getting close. Well well, Mrs. Tate, what brings you here?¡± The man wore trendy streetwear with slightly curly brown hair and a roguish smile. His seemingly joking words carried pure malice. Veronica ignored Archie and stepped forward, but he raised a leg and blocked her path. Then, he leaned in close, deliberately scrutinizing her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? I didn¡¯t mistake you for someone else. Mrs. Tate, you seem to be in such a bad mood today.¡± Veronica refused to let his words provoke her. In the early days of her marriage, Heath often stayed out all night. When she went to bars looking for him, she was blocked at every turn. They would say, ¡°Mrs. Tate, please don¡¯t make things difficult for us.¡± Archie, who happened to be passing by, mocked her. ¡°You¡¯re more controlling than Heath¡¯s mother. You¡¯re just a full¨Ctime maid, but you really think you¡¯re Mrs. Tate? Maid suits your status better.¡± Veronica was already hurting inside. She didn¡¯t understand why, beyond Heath¡¯s coldness, even his friends had to treat her this way. Tears fell before she could stop them. Archie must¡¯ve found a new source of amusement, because ever since then, he deliberately called her ¡± Mrs. Tate¡± just to mock her, no matter the asion. ¦° Nheless, such incidents weren¡¯t rare. She¡¯d even heard Archie and his circle calling her a homewrecker¡± behind her back, sarcastically implying she¡¯d interfered with Heath and Eleanor¡¯s rtionship to climb up. Yet back then, Heath had been the one to approach her first. As far as she knew, the ever¨Cso¨Cpure Eleanor had never even admitted to dating anyone in college. Two people who never made their rtionship official kept using her as a scapegoat indefinitely. With Archie¨CEleanor¡¯s loyal defender andpdog¨Ceverything revolved around Eleanor, even in matters of love. Even though Veronica was legally Heath¡¯s wife, Archie never showed her an ounce of respect. Veronica¡¯s lips curved slightly. Then, she kicked his leg aside with full force, not holding back. ¡°Whose dog is this? Shouldn¡¯t your owner be worried you¡¯re out here making a scene?¡± ¡°Do you even know what you¡¯re saying?¡± Archie¡¯s face twisted with rage. He raised his hand, but Veronica pped it away without flinching. Her eyes were cold as she said, ¡°Sorry, sir. I don¡¯t know you. Come any closer, and I¡¯ll call the cops for sexual harassment.¡± She held up her phone, her tone dry. ¡°They just left not long ago. I¡¯m sure they wouldn¡¯t mind turning back.¡± A man who couldn¡¯t even protect his own girlfriend had no business barking at her. He was nothing but pathetic. But for the sake of keeping up her ¡°amnesia¡± act, she swallowed those words. ¡°You-¡± Archie choked, fury building in his throat, but something flickered in his eyes. Did this damn woman really forget everything? Veronica raised her brow slightly, not even bothering to hide her disgust. With that, she brushed past him and entered her room. Archie stared at her retreating back, too stunned to speak for a long time. Chapter 36 Dangerous 36 6 pter 36 Archie was fuming at how Veronica had just mocked him. He couldn¡¯t believe her audacity. ¡± Before he could even process it, one of his men came running over in a panic. ¡°Bad news, Mr. Lane! Bruce and Frank just got taken away by the cops! Ms. Tillman¡¯s on her way to the hospital for a full assault exam! Archie eximed, ¡°What?¡± The club manager, Jordan Cooke, was drenched in sweat and stammering, ¡°J¨CJust now, I wasn¡¯t here. Ms. Dolton tricked the front desk staff into opening that private room and caught our people we¡¯d arranged in advance.¡± ¡°Which Ms. Dolton?¡± Archie¡¯s eyes narrowed dangerously, then he paused. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it was Veronica!¡± Jordan stuttered, ¡°I¨CIt was.¡± Archie let out a sharp, bitterugh. He thought, ¡°Well yed, Veronica!¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time she had screwed up his and Eleanor¡¯s ns. He had never taken Jocelyn seriously, treating her as just another name on his list of flings. But over the past few years, her rising career had be hard to ignore, and recently, she¡¯d even begun to eclipse Eleanor in poprity. So, Archie deliberately got close to her. Then, he used just the right amount of charm and maniption to make her willingly be his girlfriend. After that, he used their rtionship to convince her to drop several projects. And yet, the one low¨Cbudget indie drama she starred in had exploded in poprity overnight. It had even challenged Eleanor¡¯s reputation as a rising star after she won the Best Actress award. How could she possibly deserve to bepared to Eleanor? During this time, Eleanor had been in low spirits. When he asked, it was actually because of Jocelyn, just as he had expected. However, Jocelyn came from an elite, conservative family and had managed to keep a squeaky¨Cclean image in the industry. The only time she¡¯d trended negatively was when she was with him. Archie sneered coldly. He decided to destroy her. He¡¯d found two gang thugs and tricked Jocelyn into the private room under the pretense of meeting family. After the deed, he¡¯d pin her as a two¨Cfaced seductress who wasn¡¯t as innocent as she seemed. Everything was supposed to be foolproof. Yet, Veronica had to interfere. His expression turned sinister as he ordered, ¡°Find out who else was in her suite.¡± Due to Archie¡¯s interference, Veronica arrived at the private room just in time. The clients and Courtney were already there. Two men hade from the client side. One had shoulder¨Clength curly hair and delicate, androgynous features, looking displeased. The other was slightly older, wearing a business suit with an all¨Cbusiness demeanor. Veronica immediately said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Something on the way dyed me and kept everyone waiting.¡± The curly¨Chaired man put down his teacup and looked Veronica up and down, his casual superiority making others ufortable. He scoffed. ¡°I thought yourpany could create works of spiritual reawakening and would surely be full of sincerity, but I didn¡¯t expect you to be so dragging even for meetings.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Ms. Dolton. Don¡¯t me yourself. Please sit.¡± The suited man spoke up to help Veronica out of the awkward situation. Veronica nodded gratefully and sat next to Courtney. Only then did she learn the identities of these two men. The curly¨Chaired man was Victor Rivera, the lead designer for the client brand Rivierre. Every design had to pass his scrutiny before moving into production. Their firm had had multiple proposals rejected under his picky standards. The man beside him was Oliver Kinney, the brand¡¯s creative director. Their brand had once gained some online fame for a set of couple¨Cthemed athletic wear. The people wearing that couple¡¯s outfit were these two men in front of her. Many people secretly spected about their rtionship, although it was never openly confirmed. While the two stepped out to the restroom, Courtney quickly filled Veronica in on the gossip. Veronica blushed when she heard the story. Courtney chuckled. ¡°The meeting¡¯s going well, though. Victor barely criticized anything, which is a miracle. I think it¡¯s pretty much sealed. By the way, what happened earlier?¡± Just as Veronica was about to speak, the private room door suddenly opened. ¡°Sorry, you two, but Rivierre¡¯s coboration with yourpany needs to be postponed.¡± Dangerous 37 Chapter 37 Courtney looked up in surprise, her smile fading. ¡°Mr. Kinney, would you mind telling us why?¡± Oliver shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s an internalpany decision. I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t share the specifics.¡± Courtney pressed on, unwilling to give up. ¡°But we were having a great conversation earlier. We were about to enter the prototyping stage¡­¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Veronica added, frowning.¡°Is there some kind of misunderstanding?¡± How could a project that was practically a done deal fall apart just because they went to the restroom? Something clearly happened in between. ¡°Oliver, why are you wasting time exining anything to them?¡± Victor interrupted with a sneer, his tone sharp and dismissive. ¡°They¡¯ve offended someone and now expect Rivierre to clean up the mess for them? I¡¯m not afraid to say that this coboration ends here.¡± ¡°Victor,¡± Oliver chided softly. Then, he turned back with an apologetic expression. ¡°We do need to pause this partnership. Ms. Dolton, your design was truly impressive, and it¡¯s a real shame. I suggest you both wait and see. Maybe there¡¯ll be an opportunity down the line.¡± Even though Oliver tried to soften the blow with politenguage, the message was clear and not so different from Victor¡¯s blunt dismissal. With that, the two left the room first. Veronica watched them go and pieced together the clues. Could this be because of Archie? That man never took slights lightly. All she did was step on his ego a little outside the room. Moreover, Archie¡¯s family just happened to be one of the four major families in Jouver. Hence, they were surely capable of putting pressure on a sportswear brand. Courtney noticed Veronica deep in thought and asked, ¡°Veronica, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Veronica shared her theory, her voice tinged with guilt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Courtney. If I knew he was this petty, I would¡¯ve ignored himpletely.¡± ¡°How is this your fault?¡± Courtney gave a sharpugh, a mix of anger and amusement. ¡°That mutt Archie has always been trash.¡± Upon hearing her response, Veronica suddenly felt silly for forgetting. Back in the day, Archie had once pursued Courtney just to win a bet with Eleanor. Veronica hadn¡¯t met Courtney yet, but she¡¯d heard about what happened. Apparently, Archie had left her stranded alone in the suburbste at night during winter. It was ten degrees below zero, and Courtney had Chapter 37 to walk all the way back to the city by herself. Meanwhile, Archie had been busy stering Eleanor¡¯s birthday wishes across every billboard in town, not caring about Courtney at all. Nheless, Courtney wasn¡¯t one to take things lying down. When she found out it was all a joke, she broke up with him. After that, she even drugged him using Eleanor¡¯s name, stripped him down, and left him naked in the woods for a night. She pulled it off wlessly, and thanks to the long list of enemies Archie had made, he never figured out who was behind it. She only told Veronica about it after the two became close. Courtney had always had a charmed life. However, even after yearster and married, mentioning Archie still made her want to nail that old grudge to a pir of shame. Veronica wrapped her arms around Courtney, hoping the gesture would bring her somefort. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Veronica. Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Courtney said, brushing it off. ¡°Honestly, I never had high hopes for this deal anyway. And besides¡­¡± Her voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°I¡¯ve always had a bone to pick with that diva Victor. If it weren¡¯t for Rivierre helping Novaro Design during our rough patch years ago, I wouldn¡¯t have wasted my time doing all this thankless work for the lowest industry rate, no less.¡± She added, ¡°Veronica, I should thank you for giving them a chance to break up with us first. You solved a big problem.¡± Veronica couldn¡¯t help butugh through her exasperation. Courtney really did know how to make someone feel better. urtney erre was demanding, it had evolved into a well¨Cestablished mid¨Cluxury brand in recent years. es were low, the partnership had helped elevate Novaro¡¯s visibility in the industry. touched, knowing Courtney was only saying this to ease her guilt. Her initially low spirits wept over by a warm current. ortney patted her hand and picked up her bag. ¡°Let¡¯s go. Discussing their coboration today was secondary. We still have real business to take care of.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Veronica tilted her head. ¡°Do we have another client meeting?¡± Courtneyughed. ¡°Veronica, do I look like a heartless corporate shark forcing my employees to attend two back¨Cto¨Cback business dealings in a single day?¡± Chapter 38 Dangerous 38 Chapter 38 Veronica looked down and giggled secretly, quickly denying it while curiously asking, ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°Of course it¡¯s to celebrate your recovery and discharge from the hospital. We¡¯re weing Smile¡¯s official return,¡± Courtney replied. Courtney had already sensed that this meeting wouldn¡¯t go well with Victor around. She just hadn¡¯t expected it to happen so quickly. Then again, it was fine. With the meeting ending early, the reservation wouldn¡¯t go to waste. Veronica¡¯s cheeks warmed as she realized what Courtney had nned all along. ¡°Courtney, I really-¡± Before she could finish saying thanks, Courtney cut her off with a grin, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t you dare say those two words. I¡¯ll pretend I didn¡¯t hear them.¡± With that, the two of them headed to Spago, a famous private kitchen restaurant in Jouver. Their menu changed daily depending on the chef¡¯s mood. Despite this seemingly risky sales approach, the restaurant had built its reputation over the years through word of mouth due to its exceptional food quality. Without connections to make advance reservations, one simply couldn¡¯t get a table here. While standing outside the restaurant, Veronica remembered when she¡¯d carefully nned Heath¡¯s birthday dinner at Spagost year. However, he never showed up. Later, she learned from entertainment headlines that Heath and Eleanor had gone sailing together. That night, she barely ate a few bites of that meal. The head chef, Alejandro Lewis, had evene over personally to ask if Veronica had anyints about his cooking. However, she was too heartbroken at the time. When his pressing questions sounded somewhat fierce, she burst into tears. It must¡¯ve been Alejandro¡¯s first time dealing with that situation. ¡°Whoa, whoa, miss. Okay, okay, my bad! I¡¯m sorry, alright? How about the next time youe in, the food is on me. You can order whatever you want, okay?¡± The image of Alejandro frantically handing her napkins to wipe her face was still vivid in her memory. Veronica¡¯s eyes curved into a smile as she entered the restaurant with Courtney. However, after checking Courtney¡¯s reservation, the hostess¡¯s expression immediately changed. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Powell, your reserved private room is no longer avable. Would it be okay to move you to the main dining area?¡± Courtney¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°What do you mean? I thought your ce didn¡¯t y games with overbooking. I made this reservation over a week ago.¡± The hostess shrank under her re and quickly called for the manager, Ronan Perry. Ronan came over with a polite attitude and apologized first before exining, ¡°Here¡¯s the situation. A gentleman just booked your suite for ast¨Cminute birthday celebration for his girlfriend. He said if you arrive, he¡¯s willing to pay ten times the rate to buy you out, plus cover your full bill tonight.¡± Any normal person hearing such terms would be tempted. But unfortunately, Courtney had hit a streak of bad luck today. Even her anticipated restaurant had this kind of mix¨Cup, leaving her in a foul mood. ¡°What if I refuse?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Ronan looked genuinely troubled. Veronica said softly, ¡°How about you take us to meet this gentleman and let him speak to us personally?¡± ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± Ronan made an internal call. After getting approval from the other party, he led the two women to the private room door. The door wasn¡¯tpletely closed, and the people inside sang ¡°Happy Birthday¡± in unison. A few voices in the back were shouting, ¡°Kiss! Kiss!¡± Through the narrow gap, Veronica clearly saw who the birthday girl was. Heath stood behind Eleanor, hand over hers, guiding the knife to cut the first slice of cake. He said, ¡± Happy birthday, Eleanor.¡± im Bonus For Free Every Day>> 6 im Chapter 39 Dangerous 39 Chapter 39 Veronica¡¯s expression remained calm, but a mocking glint shed in her eyes. What a loving scene indeed. So, the restaurant¡¯s mention of the ¡°gentleman¡± and ¡°his girlfriend¡± referred to these two. That wasn¡¯t surprising at all. Veronica¡¯s calm gaze shifted to Archie, who was jumping around with the most enthusiasm beside the couple. On the way over, photos of Jocelyn being secretly photographed entering the hospital had already hit the headlines and stirred up quite a buzz. During their rtionship, Jocelyn¡¯s rising star status had brought considerable exposure to Lane Corporation. Yet here Archie was, the boyfriend in question, still having the leisure to celebrate another woman¡¯s birthday. Birds of a feather truly flocked together. Beside her, Courtney, who had initiallye with the energy of watching a trainwreck, was now clearly pissed. If she remembered correctly, Heath and Veronica weren¡¯t even divorced yet. Yet, he was already unting his rtionship so openly. The air around both women dropped several degrees. Ronan sensed the shift and silently cursed, knowing things were about to get ugly. Inside the private room, Archie noticed the two women standing at the door, their expressions dark. He let out a soft snort through his nose, entirely unsurprised. As expected, if he didn¡¯t make a move, these two clueless women wouldn¡¯t easilye crawling to apologize. With that, he started wondering how to make them beg for mercyter. Of course, he¡¯d first give that little sportswear contract to Eleanor¡¯s people right in front of them. Archie walked toward the door with his hands in his pockets, grinning provocatively. ¡°What¡¯s this? Are you two here to join Eleanor¡¯s birthday party? Unfortunately, there aren¡¯t any extra seats. Please leave.¡± The private room wasn¡¯trge, so Archie¡¯s words were loud enough for everyone present to hear the at the door. When Heath saw Veronica appear outside, he noticed the bandage around her eye had been removed, leaving behind a crescent¨Cshaped red mark the size of a fingernail. It made those already beautiful eyes even more alluring. Eleanor noticed the man¡¯s distraction and dug her nails into her palms. Then, she approached with a smile. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Veronica and Courtney! Sorry, I forgot to send you invitations. Come in and sit down.¡± She spoke as if she were the hostess. Heath said nothing, but by not objecting, he gave silent consent, Archie was displeased, his gaze lingering on Courtney for a moment. ¡°El, why let them crash your birthday party? Aren¡¯t you worried they¡¯ll ruin it and bring bad luck?¡± Courtney was the most ungrateful among all his ex¨Cgirlfriends. He¡¯d only been apanying Eleanor, yet she¡¯d thrown such a tantrum and broken up with him. She had a big attitude for someone who should¡¯ve been grateful to even be near him. He never tolerated women who didn¡¯t know their ce, and he certainly never made them anything more than temporary flings. Courtneyughed. ¡°Oh? I was wondering who it was! Isn¡¯t this Eleanor¡¯s faithfulpdog, Archie the Mutt?¡± Veronica chuckled and added, ¡°It¡¯s odd, isn¡¯t it? Everyone¡¯s focused on the birthday couple, and here this gentleman is¨Cjumping up and down like he¡¯s the star. Be careful, or you might sprain something.¡± Theirbined attack immediately sent Archie into a rage. ¡°What a pair of sharp¨Ctongued witches! Seems like losing that contract tonight didn¡¯t teach you any lessons!¡± Veronica blinked innocently. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s quite the confession. All I did was give you a polite nudge when you blocked my path, and suddenly, we¡¯re out 30 million dors?¡± Courtney smirked. ¡°Must¡¯ve kicked his leg so hard he can¡¯t walk straight. Poor guy decided to get revenge. #1 Archie snapped, screaming at Ronan, ¡°Security! Where the hell are the restaurant¡¯s security? Are you blind? Get these two bitches out of here!¡± Amid the chaos, Heath¡¯s voice turned cold. ¡°Archie, what contract?¡± At those words, Archie immediately fell silent as a mouse. After a long pause, he stammered evasively, ¡°N -Nothing. It¡¯s just some normal businesspetition. It just happened that theirpany was the Heath¡¯s voice dipped lower. ¡°What?¡± There was a warning in that tone. Heath knew Archie only stuttered when he was lying. Dangerous 40 What the hell had Archie been doing behind Heath¡¯s back? ¡°Oh,e on. It¡¯s my birthday. Everyone¡¯s a guest, aren¡¯t they?¡± Eleanor saw that things were heading south and quickly jumped in. ¡°Archie, don¡¯t act all pouty just because you wanted to surprise me. Alright, Veronica, Courtney. Hurry up ande inside.¡± The two of them stood at the doorway, not moving an inch. Archie barked out a warning, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear El calling you? Don¡¯t act all high and mighty now!¡± Courtney ignored him, smiling as she asked Rowan, ¡°Mr. Perry, did you see that? I don¡¯t want to give up my private room to someone like that.¡± Rowan looked troubled and turned to exin to the people in the private room, ¡°This private room was booked by Ms. Powell a week ago, and she doesn¡¯t want to give it up.¡± For a moment, everyone¡¯s expressions soured. Reynard had been in a bad mood recently, so Eleanor hadn¡¯t thrown a big birthday party. Although the guests today might not have been the absolute top¨Ctier socialites, they were still all well- known names in Jouver. None of them had ever been to a party where they got kicked out of a restaurant. If word got out, they¡¯d be theughingstock of the town. Archie immediately jumped up. ¡°Courtney! Are you holding a grudge because I rejected you? It¡¯s just a private room. Do you really have to be this petty?¡± Courtney was furious that he had twisted the situation and yed the victim. However, Veronica linked her arm with Courtney and gently fired back, ¡°Mr. Lane, if you¡¯re so good at being the bigger person, then why didn¡¯t you let me off the hook that time?¡± Archie¡¯s eyes widened with fury. ¡°Mrs. Tate, no one asked for your opinion! It wasn¡¯t even because of that kick! It was because of Jocelyn!¡± ¡°Archie!¡± Eleanor rushed up to grab him, gently scolding him. ¡°Don¡¯t raise your voice like that. You¡¯ll disturb the other guests.¡± This idiot was absolutely brainless. He didn¡¯t know how to read the room at all! Of course, she knew about the setup with Jocelyn. By now, that woman¡¯s explicit photos were probably already trending online. For him to blurt this out at such a crucial moment was basically dragging her down with him. Eleanor¡¯s expression kept shifting as she pulled Archie back. She turned around, eyes welling up with tears, as she looked at Veronica pitifully. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Veronica. We really didn¡¯t know you¡¯d booked this private room beforehand. ¡°It¡¯s just that today¡¯s my birthday. I wanted to have a simple celebration. I never expected such a misunderstanding to happen. Forget it, we¡¯ll leave right now. I hope we didn¡¯t ruin your mood.¡± Veronica quietly enjoyed the entire orchestrated performance. She silently counted down to one in her head. ¡°Wait.¡± Sure enough, someone took the bait. Heath grabbed Eleanor¡¯s forearm, his cold eyes full ofplicated emotions. ¡°Name your price. How much before you let this room go?¡± ¡°30 million dors,¡± Veronica casually replied. Heath¡¯s gaze turned sharp as a de. ¡°Veronica, don¡¯t make a scene at a time like this. Today is Eleanor¡¯s birthday. Can¡¯t you give her a break?¡± Veronica shrugged nonchntly, looking utterly baffled. ¡°What does you and your little girlfriend reserving a private room have anything to do with me?¡± ¡°Heath, stop wasting words with her! These two women obviously came here just to cause trouble today! I refuse to believe you can¡¯t buy a private room with money! I¡¯d rather burn my money than give it to them! ¡°Archie shouted. Archie was fuming, then turned to Rowan and yelled, ¡°You! Go get your boss! I want to invest in this ce!¡± Rowan was speechless. So, investing in them was equivalent to burning money. But given the situation, if this didn¡¯t get resolved soon, the restaurant¡¯s reputation would take a serious hit. a moment, he told everyone to wait a bit and went to find his boss. agged out of the kitchen, there was a murderous glint in his eyes. guys to work or sit around? You¡¯ve got a problem? Youe to me. You¡¯re hungry? You e. You¡¯re upset? You act and couldn¡¯t speak recklessly. The people around them all perked up their ears to eavesdrop. After all, everyone in their circle knew that Veronica was married to Heath. Heath¡¯s cold gaze flickered with suspicion. Veronica never had the habit of celebrating her birthday. It seemed that when it was his birthdayst year, she had told him she had made reservations for dinner at this restaurant. He didn¡¯t like these performative social dinners, so he went sailing with Eleanor and Archie that day instead. Had Veronica cried because he didn¡¯t show up? Eleanor saw Heath staring at Veronica again and bit her lip so hard she almost drew blood. Archie, who always paid attention to his beloved, felt another wave of heartache when he saw this. Veronica should never have shown up! If he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have meddled with that deal. He could have dyed these two women a little longer. Right now, he was drowning in his own regrets. He¡¯d definitely have to pay that 30 million dors now! Archie anxiously grabbed Ronan. ¡°Where the hell is your boss? Is this how you show sincerity about a partnership? I¡¯m offering 30 million dors for a private room, and you¡¯re making me wait for him?¡± Ronan was speechless. He looked over and saw Evan slowly raise his head, his smile gradually fading. ¡°Oh, I thought it was some idiot who must¡¯ve been dropped on the head, barging in here with 30 million dors to invest.¡± Archie studied him. ¡°You¡¯re just some chef. Who are you to speak like that to me?¡± Evan flipped over the name tag on his chest, revealing the shiny words, ¡°Owner¡°, in gold. ¡°Now, can I talk?¡± Archie was instantly speechless. He forced an awkwardugh and said, ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s you. Great. Now, get someone to throw these two women out. Show me you¡¯remitted, and I¡¯ll hand over that 30 million dors.¡± In Archie¡¯s eyes, Evan was just a restaurant owner. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t refuse such a good deal. Evan ignored him and turned to Ronan. ¡°Ronan, hang up a sign at the door that says no idiots or dogs allowed.¡± ¡°Got it, Mr. Bat.¡± Courtney burst intoughter, nearly doubling over. Archie finally reacted after that. Everyone else also looked like they were holding in theirughter. ¡°You!¡± Archie was about to explode, but Eleanor secretly pulled him back, leaving him no ce to vent his anger. The situation was getting more and more tense. ¡°Mr. Bat, let¡¯s talk.¡± Heath¡¯s expression was cold. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary.¡± Evan sneered and pointed at the private room. ¡°You guys brought in all outside food and drink,pletely disrespecting the ce. Do you think I run this ce as a charity?¡± Veronica listened for a while before finally remembering. Spago had strict dining rules. Outside food and drinks weren¡¯t allowed. If caught, there would be a fine a hundred times the value, plus a permanent ban. Heath¡¯s gaze darkened, and his voice turned low and threatening. ¡°It¡¯s just a private room, Mr. Bat. Are you really going to make things ugly over something so small?¡± The Tate family might have started in Shalton, but in recent years, they had been steadily expanding into Jouver and beyond. Dangerous 42 The Tate family wasn¡¯t without power in Jouver, but Heath had always kept a low profile and never liked using his influence to pressure people in public. Veronica quietly looked at his hand sped with Eleanor¡¯s. She thought back to when she had just given birth to the twins and was recuperating at a postpartum center. A socialite had shown up one day, insisting that the room Veronica was staying in had been reserved by her first, despite not providing any proof. In the freezing cold of December, Veronica had to carry her babies with her and was forced out of the room. That socialite even purposely blocked her in the hallway, refusing to let her leave. Veronica had waited five hours for Heath to arrive. Back then, he had only nced at the twins and warned her coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t make a scene.¡± Then, he took her to another fancier postpartum center. She used to think that Heath was just emotionally detached, unwilling to get involved in conflicts. It wasn¡¯t until Eleanor appeared that she realized just how wrong she had been. When she thought about it now, Veronica felt like a heavy weight was pressing down on her chest. It pressed down so hard she could hardly breathe. She didn¡¯t hold out much hope. No matter how good this restaurant owner¡¯s business was, there was no way he would pick a fight with the Tate family just for her. With Heath stepping forward, the others all looked even more confident, as if they already had the victory in hand. ¡°Well, tough luck.¡± Evan waved his hand and let out a coldugh. ¡°If there¡¯s one thing I¡¯ve got plenty of, it¡¯s enemies. Ronan, show them out.¡± In an instant, more than a dozen burly security guards appeared from all directions. The entire crowd gasped. Heath¡¯s gaze turned icy as he lowered his voice in warning. ¡°I¡¯d think twice before crossing the Tate family.¡± Evan rolled his eyes impatiently. ¡°What¡¯s taking so long? When you throw them out, don¡¯t mess up those two pretty fools. I want them in one piece. I¡¯ll have my fun with themter,¡± Heath clenched his fist. He gave Evan a long, hard look before saying to the others, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± However, Archie was still reluctant, cursing out loud. In the end, he was carried and thrown out of the restaurant by ten security guards. Other than that one time he woke up naked in the middle of nowhere, he had never been so humiliated in his entire life. The two ¡°pretty fools¡± who had just watched this y out felt like their blocked chest instantly cleared up. Veronica couldn¡¯t believe it. It all felt surreal, almost like a dream. After tossing out the group of show¨Coffs, Evan turned to look at the two of them. ¡°We¡¯re leaving now,¡± Courtney quickly uttered, dragging Veronica with her in an attempt to flee immediately. Getting tossed out would be too embarrassing. Evan called outzily, ¡°Where are you two running off to? At least stay and have something to eat before you go.¡± The two of them froze in ce. Five minutester, they were seated in a private VIP room, decorated in an elegant, ssic style. Every vase in there looked like it could cost a million dors. The entire room had sweeping views of the most beautiful parts of the restaurant. Soon, more than 20 beautifully crafted dishes were brought out one after another. Each dish was a masterpiece, and none of them were even on that day¡¯s regr menu. Courtney and Veronica were stunned. They were beingpletely spoiled! They ate their hearts¡® content that night, and Evan himself personally delivered the final dish.
  1. ce.
them dig in so happily, he actually felt a surprising sense of satisfaction. If you can¡¯t finish them, I¡¯ll make an exception and let you take them to¨Cgo,¡± he teased. most choked from her shock. She had endless questions in her mind. Was weird. This chef, who had always been known for his explosive temper, was suddenly acting so However, Evan didn¡¯t seem interested in chatting. After setting down thest dish, he turned and walked out. Evan headed straight to a small, private side room. He couldn¡¯t hold back his curiosity any longer. ¡°William! Spill. Which one of them is my cousin into?¡± he asked. William tried to stay calm, saying, ¡°Guess.¡± Evan sucked in a sharp breath. ¡°You little punk!¡± ¡°Oh, I just remembered that Mr. Thomas told me to deliver a document. I¡¯ve got to run, Mr. Evan!¡± Just like that, William bolted out of the room. Evan stood there, stunned. William¡¯s poker face had gotten better. Evan thought back to the crying woman with a husband. Judging by how lovestruck she was, she didn¡¯t seem like someone who¡¯d rush to get a divorce. Ashton might¡¯ve been single for almost 30 years, but he wouldn¡¯t cross a line like that. Could it be¡­ that tough, intimidating woman who was with her? Evan felt like he had just uncovered a huge secret. But the more he thought about it, the harder it was to picture cold, aloof Ashton liking someone like that. Enjoy Ad¨CFree Reading>> X Go Dangerous 43 William let out a breath of relief after leaving Spago in a hurry. Letting Ashton¡¯s secret slip was a death sentence, especially if it was to Evan, the unrivaled purveyor of high¨Csociety secrets. If he bbed today, the whole family group chat would be buzzing tomorrow with news that Ashton was going to get married! William was grateful that he had kept his mouth shut. When he saw Veronica while negotiating an external partnership, he immediately notified Ashton. Before he even had a chance to step in, Evan had already ttened those who were throwing their weight around. All William did was pop into the kitchen during the meal and ask Evan to prepare a few extra tasty dishes. And even that, Evan had managed to sniff out that something was going on! Williampiled a document of Veronica¡¯s favorite dishes and sent it to Ashton. Then, he gave him a call, updating him on Archie¡¯s little schemes behind the scenes. Ashton¡¯s voice came through,zy and calm. ¡°Clean it up. And put some pressure on the Lane¡¯s family shipping line.¡± Ashton casually opened the document William had sent. At first nce, he thought he must¡¯ve read it wrong. But then, when he saw the title, he saidzily, ¡°Give yourself a raise.¡± On the other end of the line, William clenched his fist and stomped the ground in excitement. He had made the right bet! Veronica and Courtney were enjoying a lovely dinner together at the restaurant. They also settled on her starting work next Monday. Courtney asked, ¡°Do you want me to pick you up?¡± Veronica propped her chin up, her eyes crinkling with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Courtney. I still remember how to get to Novaro Design.¡± It was just like how she found her way there in the first ce. She had already given up and missed out on too much for Heath and the two kids. Yet, what she gave was never what they wanted. She wouldn¡¯t waste her efforts like that again. Courtney chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m not worried you forgot. I¡¯m just afraid you¡¯ll bail.¡± Then, Courtney turned to answer a call, her smile fading a bit. ¡°Veronica, my mother¨Cinw¡¯s in Jouver, I¡¯m going to pick her up.¡± Veronica nodded. ¡°Go ahead. Drive safe.¡± When they went to settle the bill early, the two of them were told it had already been paid. ¡°Was it your boss?¡± Veronica asked tentatively. The front desk replied, ¡°Oh, no. Our boss isn¡¯t that generous.¡± Veronica smiled. Did the staff just say that out loud? But knowing that entric head chef, he probably wouldn¡¯t do something nice without making sure everyone knew about it. After leaving the restaurant, the sign that said, ¡°No idiots or dogs allowed¡± had already been put up. Veronica snapped a photo of it, amused and amazed. For once, she put it on her Instagram story, which seldom happened. The little red dot on her feed lit up almost immediately¨CX had liked her photo. Calvin replied, ¡°Where is this ce? I need to go!¡± Courtney chimed in as well, ¡°Hahaha! He actually put the sign up!¡± Then, there was Heath¡¯s reply. ¡°You¡¯re still there?¡± Veronica replied to each message. When she got to Heath¡¯s, she paused. In the end, she replied, ¡°Yeah.¡± tantly, he seemed to get restless. know you lost your memory, but you¡¯re an adult. Amnesia isn¡¯t an excuse to run away from nsibilities,¡± Heath said in their private chat. he sent her photos of their marriage certificates and their photos. ¡°You¡¯re already a mother of two. u¡¯re not single anymore. You need to adjust to your role.¡± Veronica¡¯s eyes lingered on the marriage certificate and the photo attached. She was wearing a white blouse, her eyes looked bright, and she was smiling. In her early 20s, she thought she¡¯d found true love. She married Heath, full of hope and dreams about love. She never imagined that what she was walking into was a long, drawn¨Cout nightmare. It had taken her a long time to finally ept that Heath didn¡¯t love her. Sometimes, Veronica didn¡¯t understand Heath. If he didn¡¯t love her, why didn¡¯t he take advantage of her ¡°amnesia¡± and divorce her so he could make things official with his one true love? A bitter smile tugged at her lips. Her fingers trembled slightly as she swiped on the chat and deleted the conversation. Out of sight, out of mind. But just as she hit delete, she almost identally tapped the new notification that popped up. Dangerous 44 X asked, ¡°Was it good?¡± Veronica didn¡¯t recognize the name at first. It was Mr. Bulletproof, Ashton Fletcher. He was probably asking about Spago. She updated his contact name. ¡°Yeah, it was delicious,¡± Veronica replied. ¡°Great.¡± Out of politeness, she replied again, ¡°Next time, would you like to join me?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Just like that, the conversation ended as quickly as it started. For the first time, Veronica slept through the night. The next morning, she got a call from an unfamiliar number. ¡°Hello, is this Ms. Dolton? Sorry to bother you. I¡¯m Jocelyn¡¯s agent. We need you toe down to the station.¡± Veronica figured it had to do with what had happened at the club the night before. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m on my way.¡± She opened the trending searches on her phone. Any news about Jocelyn from the night before had already been wiped clean, and there wasn¡¯t a single trace left. Veronica let out a quiet sigh of relief. She quickly washed up and rushed to the police station. Jocelyn¡¯s agent, Harry Murray, was already waiting outside. ¡°Sorry to trouble you with this. Jocelyn is currently in a sensitive period. She can¡¯t show her face, so we had to ask you toe instead.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no problem. It¡¯s a small matter. What happened with those two assholes? Veronica asked, concerned. Harry gave a bitter smile and shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s not enough evidence. The police gave them a warning, took their statements, and they were released on bail pending investigation.¡± Veronica¡¯s throat tightened up. What did they mean, not enough evidence? Did someone have to actually be hurt before it counted as a crime? The two of them fell silent. Worry clouded Veronica¡¯s eyes. Harry sighed. ¡°Those guys came prepared. Everything happened so fast. The club insists there¡¯s no surveince, and the ss they drugged was destroyed. ¡°Jocelyn¡¯s in a critical period. She¡¯s an Arclight nominee. We can¡¯t let this blow up. Whoever¡¯s behind this is truly vicious.¡± The Arclight Awards were a major film award hosted by Jouver. Winning it meant a ce of power in the film industry. It was a symbol of top¨Ctier talent. Jocelyn was only 23 this year. If she won, she¡¯d surpass Eleanor and be the youngest best actress in history. Veronica understood the situation and asked, ¡°Has Archie gone to see her?¡± ¡°No. Jocelyn tried calling him, but she couldn¡¯t get through.¡± Harry looked visibly frustrated. ¡°That club belongs to Archie¡¯s family. There¡¯s no way he didn¡¯t know about this. And with things this critical, he knows what winning that award would mean. Eleanor won it once, after all.¡± On the contrary, it was because he knew how important it was that he might¡¯ve acted against the woman beside him to clear the way for his precious Eleanor. Veronica had the same realizationst night, and it left her shaken. But for someone as mad as Archie, he was absolutely capable of something like this. Harry forced a smile. ¡°Jocelyn has no intention of breaking up with him. She¡¯s an actress. Thepany can¡¯t interfere in her personal life.¡± He knew Archie wasn¡¯t a good man. He¡¯d warned Jocelyn more than once. However, Archie had taken care of Jocelyn¡¯s father during thest month of his illness and never left his side. At the time, Jocelyn had been overseas filming a major project. Archie had stood in for her at her father¡¯s bedside, even managing the funeral arrangements himself. Jocelyn didn¡¯t know how to repay that kind of devotion. After the funeral, she announced her rtionship with Archie. It was the worst period of her career. She was dragged through the mud by the public. She even shut down her social media ounts. But even then, she stood firm and chose Archie. Veronica said nothing. She could guess most of what had happened. She, too, had once just been like Jocelyn. She was lost in thought when two men swaggered out of the police station. ¡°Well, well! Bruce, isn¡¯t that the bitch who called the cops on us?¡± ¡°It sure as hell is! You really got the guts to show your face in front of me, bitch? Let me tell you. Someone¡¯s got my back. Now that I¡¯m out, I¡¯ming for you!¡± Their expressions were full of menace, vicious and sneering. Theirwyer trailed behind them in silence. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you call the cops a thousand times or ten thousand times. I¡¯ll always get out! I¡¯ve got people behind me!¡± Bruce boasted loudly. ¡°Oh yeah?¡± Veronica asked coolly. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Nice try! You¡¯re not getting a word out of me. You better scrub yourself clean and wait for me!¡± The man¡¯sughter was wild and disgusting. Harry¡¯s fists clenched tightly. He could hardly imagine what Jocelyn must¡¯ve gone through facing them alonest night. Veronica didn¡¯t lose her temper. She simply held her phone t, ying back the recording. ¡°Great. If anything happens to me, you two will be the prime suspects. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s you or not. I¡¯m reporting you to the police every chance I get.¡± 1im Bonus For Free Every Day>> Dangerous 45 Chapter 45 The two thugs hadn¡¯t expected Veronica toe prepared with that move. ¡°You bitch!¡± Bruce growled through clenched teeth. Veronica smiled as she casually waved the phone, still recording. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Cool it, Bruce! Chill out! As long as we¡¯ve got our backing, nothing will happen to us!¡± Frank yanked him back in panic. Bruce strained his neck and snarled at Veronica. ¡°You just wait!¡± Harry looked worried. ¡°Ms. Dolton, those two are total thugs. If you back them into a corner, they¡¯lle after you like rabid dogs.¡± Veronica offered a calm smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± ¡°Damn it! That bitch! I swear I¡¯m going to kill her when I get the chance!¡± Bruce spat on the ground, eyes burning with fury. Frank looked around nervously. ¡°Bruce, calm down! Don¡¯t let that bitch actually get you locked up again!¡± ¡°So what? Are we just supposed to take this hit and walk it off? Sure, Mr. Lane got us out, but the damnwyer fees areing out of our paychecks! We went through all that trouble and still ended up in jail! I¡¯m not letting this slide!¡± ¡°Hell, I¡¯m pissed too! But that woman got dirt on us. We can¡¯t just charge in swinging like before.¡± Frank tried to reason with him. Bruce grunted, annoyed. ¡°Just spit it out. Quit beating around the bush like some chick!¡± Frank leaned in, face lit with excitement. ¡°Here¡¯s the n. We¡¯ll tail her back to her building and figure out he lives. Once we¡¯ve tracked her schedule, we wait for the right moment to drug her. have our fun with her, take some pictures, and we¡¯ll have leverage. After that, if you still feel even, you can cut up that pretty little face of hers! She¡¯lle crawling and crying for mercy!¡± eam ¡°ked his chin, grinning widely. ¡°Now, that¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about! I¡¯ll smash her so hard she¡¯ll be eaming for help, but no one wille!¡± The two of them cackled as they turned into an alleyway. But the second they rounded the corner, they were met with darkness. ¡°Shit!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Without warning, two heavy blowsnded right on their heads. They didn¡¯t get a chance to recover. What followed was a brutal downpour of sticks, clubs, and fists, hammering down like a storm. Every strikended with sickening weight. Their heads were covered in sacks, and though they started off yelling and cursing, it was no use. They had no way to fight back. Soon, they were whimpering and begging for mercy. William held a cigarette between his lips. He had sunsses on and was spinning a baton smoothly in one hand. He ordered, ¡°Keep going. Beat the shit out of them. Anyone who dares to disrespect Ms. Dolton is clearly tired of living.¡± Then, still pissed, he walked up andnded two solid kicks of his own. The two thugs let out loud screams. Veronica stayed with Harry to finish up thest procedures at the station. Harry was deeply grateful. ¡°Ms. Dolton, I know you used to work in the design industry. Given how important the award show is for Jocelyn, I wonder if you¡¯d be interested in being her fashion consultant for it?¡± For an event like this, attendees typically wore one outfit for the red carpet and another for the actual ceremony. y celebrities never made it to the stage, so the red carpet became the spotlight and a prime rtunity for brands to showcase their work. at for someone like Jocelyn, who was a real contender for the award, all eyes would be on her¨Cboth inside and outside. Letting Veronica design the ceremony gown was the most sincere way to show gratitude. Veronica was taken aback. ¡°Mr. Murray, I didn¡¯t help Ms. Tillman for any kind of reward or job offer. I¡¯m not ¡°Of course. We know you¡¯re not that kind of person,¡± Harry interrupted gently, smiling. ¡°But this was Jocelyn¡¯s idea. She¡¯s always been someone who values loyalty and kindness. She doesn¡¯t want to owe anyone. So, I¡¯m asking you on her behalf. Please take on this project.¡± Loyalty and kindness were what kept her with Archie all this time. Veronica¡¯s expression shifted thoughtfully. ¡°This isn¡¯t a small thing. Let me think about it.¡± Harry nodded. ¡°Of course.¡± Dangerous 46 As the two walked out of the police station, a pair of battered, wailing figures suddenly stumbled into view. ¡°Officer! We need to report something! Where are the cops?¡± Veronica and Harry were both surprised to see it was Bruce and Frank back again. Their bodies were so swollen and bruised that there wasn¡¯t a patch of intact skin left. They looked downright terrifying. Harry raised an eyebrow, then grinned in satisfaction. ¡°It looks like evil met its match today.¡± Veronica gave a lightugh. ¡°It seems like some good soul stepped in. Let¡¯s go.¡± The two said their goodbyes at the station entrance. On the way home, Veronica stopped by the supermarket near herplex to pick up some groceries and household essentials. She nned to give her ce a deep clean and make herself a good soup that evening. On her way out of the market, she spotted a thriving pot of peri. It reminded her of the elderly man next door who loved to tend the nts. She hadn¡¯t seen him in a while. She paid for it and took it home with her. Outside her apartment building, a man and a woman were arguing in the distance. The woman was wearing a full designer outfit from Chanel, with her chestnut curls pinned neatly behind her head. The man kneeling on the ground looked worn out and haggard, begging, ¡°Renee, didn¡¯t you say if I got divorced, you¡¯d be with me? I¡¯ve done it. I left my wife and kids behind for you! I bought you a house, a car, and designer bags. Now, you¡¯re dumping me? You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± ¡°Eric, don¡¯t you dare pin this all on me! I¡¯m just a woman in my 20s, and you¨Csome middle¨Caged married man¨Ctricked me! If anything, I¡¯m the victim! Everything you gave me? Consider itpensation for emotional damage. Now, get lost before I call the cops!¡± The woman scowled, speaking to him condescendingly, as if he were trash. Veronica nced over and quietly sighed to herself. Here was yet another man who abandoned his wife and kids and a gold¨Cdigging mistress with no scruples. She shook her head and walked past them quickly. It was none of her business. But just then, the man roared, ¡°Renee Pascar! You knew I had a wife and kids when we got together. Now that I¡¯ve got nothing, you¡¯re thinking of discarding me? You¡¯ll end up just like that woman! Ruined!¡± He grabbed a brick from a flowerbed and hurled it straight at the woman. Renee screamed and, in panic, shoved the nearest person¨CVeronica -toward him. Then, she turned and bolted into the apartment building on her heels. It all happened too fast, so Veronica didn¡¯t even see what wasing. Everything went ck in an instant. Then, a faint mix of woody cologne and someone¡¯s distinct personal scent surrounded her. She realized she had been pulled into someone¡¯s arms. The brick missed her by a hair, smashing into the ground and splitting in two. The man, seeing he had failed, turned and ran. Veronica¡¯s heart was pounding in fright. She looked up from the unfamiliar embrace and locked eyes with a face she knew all too well. It was Ashton. ¡°Mr. Bulletproof?¡± she called out. In her shock, Veronica identally blurted out the nickname she used privately for Ashton. Only after the words were out did she realize it, and instantly frowned in regret. ¡°Mr¡­ Bulletproof?¡± Ashton repeated the phrase, clearly amused. His gaze fell to her pale face. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, Ms. Bad Luck.¡± ¡°Mr. Tate, ourplex recently added a private pool on the north side,¡± the realtor was exining as they toured the ce. ¡°Once Ms. Turner moves in, she¡¯ll be able to swim freely here on her off days.¡± The realtor took Heath and Eleanor around the apartmentplex, introducing the facilities. However, Heath¡¯s eyes were focused elsewhere. He was watching the building ahead, where a man and woman were wrapped in each other¡¯s arms. Dangerous 47 The woman was petite and wore a cream¨Ccolored fleece coat, but her face wasn¡¯t in view. However, that coat looked just like the one Veronica had. There was a time when Heath considered buying her clothes, but she told him she wanted to make her own. He hadn¡¯t thought much of it. To him, it seemed like a waste of time to go through all that trouble for a piece of clothing. And sure enough, after giving birth to Samuel and Miriam, she didn¡¯t have time for things like that. All her energy went into caring for the two kids. As for the clothes she designed¡­. Heath pulled his gaze away from the woman, his face cold and full of disdain. That coat was probably something she picked up from some niche marketce. Yet now, someone else was wearing the same thing. ¡°Heath, I really love this ce. Can we book this one?¡± Eleanor tugged on the arm of the distracted Heath. She¡¯d already had someone look into it¨CVeronica was living in this very apartmentplex now. When the time came, and Veronica saw Eleanor and Heath together with her own eyes, she wouldn¡¯t be able to keep up the act anymore. Heath held her hand, showing no resistance. ¡°Alright. If you like it, we¡¯ll take it.¡± The realtor, sensing the deal was done, was overjoyed. He immediately threw out the highest price. ¡°30 million dors!¡± Eleanor¡¯s face scrunched up. ¡°That kind of money could buy a condominium in a top¨Ctier school district downtown. Heath, forget it. I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡± Heath felt a pang of heartache in his chest. Eleanor was always thinking of him. She was only looking for a new ce because his grandfather kicked her out. He raised his hand and said calmly, ¡°If you like it, we¡¯re buying it. Let¡¯s sign the lease now.¡± The realtor immediately pulled out the contract from his bag, terrified they might change their minds. People who were this easy to fleece didn¡¯t not around, what about Mira?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll have Veronicae back and take care of the kids,¡± Heath said coolly. ¡°Even if she¡¯s lost her memory, it¡¯s still her responsibility. I can¡¯t let you bear all the burden and end up taking the me.¡± Eleanor¡¯s gaze softened as she leaned against Heath. Her freshly manicured nails lightly traced circles on the chest of his white shirt. ¡°Heath, thank you for always thinking of me,¡± she said coyly. Today, Eleanor wore a form¨Cfitting, V¨Cneck white sweater. As Heath looked down, he could see a sliver of porcin skin. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbled, and he caught her wandering hand. ¡°Heath, you¡¯re hurting me.¡± Eleanor pouted. He smiled. ¡°That hurts already?¡± Their breaths grew hotter, and their faces drew closer. Suddenly, the shrill ring of a phone shattered the moment. In an instant, Heath¡¯s hazy gaze cleared up. Eleanor bit her lip hard, trying to hold on to him, but he gave her a reassuring look and got up to answer. On the other end, Archie¡¯s anxious voice came through. ¡°Heath, where are you? That new sea route we were partnering on is about to get cut!¡± Heath¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What happened?¡± Tate Group had recently expanded into Jouver, with their first venture being a sea route developed in partnership with the Lane family. Everything had been lined up, with only one final stamp of approval left. They had already sunk a considerable amount of time and capital into preparations. No one had expected things to stall over a single signature. Archie, the second son of the Lane family, had invited Heath into the deal to strengthen his own position in the family after hearing Heath was returning to set up operations in Jouver. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say the project was a sure thing?¡± Heath questioned coldly. Archie sat on the couch, looking dejected. ¡°This whole thing¡¯s messed up! It happened right after we made the announcement. Who in Jouver would dare to block a deal with the Lane family? Someone¡¯s obviously messing with us!¡± Heath frowned. ¡°Did you piss someone off recently?¡± Archie thought hard. Aside from that damn chef at the restaurantst night, no one came to mind. ¡°There¡¯s no way that chef has this kind of power!¡± Just then, Archie remembered how Veronica had slipped away from him the night before. ¡°Running into Veronica is pure bad luck! Everything was fine. Now, the deal¡¯s falling apart!¡± Heath frowned. ¡°What does this route have to do with her? Archie, watch your words.¡± Dangerous 48 ¡°Heath, you don¡¯t even love her. Why are you taking that woman¡¯s side?¡± Archieined, clearly irritated. ¡°Eleanor endured ten years of dirty looks from your family for you!¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Heath¡¯s expression turned cold as he cut him off. ¡°We¡¯re talking business. Don¡¯t change the subject. What matters right now is the shipping line, not some woman.¡± Archie knew he was in the wrong and said no more. Still, if it weren¡¯t for Veronica standing in the way, he and Heath wouldn¡¯t be at odds like this. It was all that bitch Veronica¡¯s fault! The Spago sign incident fromst night had already be the talk of the entire social circle. Someone had dug up that the sign had been made for Archie, and now his usual rivals wouldn¡¯t let him live it down. Damn it! He wasn¡¯t going to let this go! At the apartment, Veronica awkwardly pulled herself out of Ashton¡¯s arms. ¡°S¨CSorry, Mr. Fletcher. I didn¡¯t hurt you, did I? What are you doing here?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t hurt me. I¡¯m Mr. Bulletproof,¡± Ashton said as he straightened his rumpled cor. Veronica gave a strained smile. He really wasn¡¯t going to drop that nickname. But he kind of had a point. Every time she ran into him, he seemed to block some sort of disaster for her. Maybe it was time she got him a lucky rabbit¡¯s foot or something. The atmosphere grew slightly awkward. Ashton noticed the pot of peri in her arms. ¡°Are you feeling unwelltely?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ no.¡± She shook her head. Veronica followed his gaze and exined, ¡°This is for the elderly man next door.¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite thoughtful,¡± Ashtonmented. She pressed her lips into a small smile. She wasn¡¯t sure why, but it felt like he was implying something more with his words. Then, he suddenly added, ¡°I¡¯m here to visit my grandfather.¡± ¡°You¡¯re very thoughtful, too.¡± ¡°Well, he is family.¡± Veronica wanted to facepalm herself. What was she even saying? But Ashton¡¯s presence was so intense, she couldn¡¯t keep herposure. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll let you off to go see your grandpa then. I¡¯m heading home,¡± Veronica said as she turned and walked toward the apartment building. When she thought back on the exchange with Ashton, she wanted to disappear. She pressed the elevator¡¯s close button. Just as the door began to shut, it slowly opened again. That striking, sharply defined face reappeared right behind the doors. Veronica blinked. No way¡­ he wasn¡¯ting after her, right? Ashton stood outside the door, tall and still, in his ck trench coat. That ungrateful woman had bolted off like he didn¡¯t matter!. She brought something for his grandfather, but she didn¡¯t even spare a second thought for him. She said they should grab a meal together, but that didn¡¯t happen either. As for all that crap about saving up to get him the best scar specialist? That was probably just sweet talk to keep him happy. Hurt flickered in his eyes. Veronica noticed this and instantly panicked. ¡°I didn¡¯t know your grandpa lived in this building too¡­¡± she blurted out. ¡°Yep.¡± Ashton stepped into the elevator. She noticed that he didn¡¯t press his floor button and hesitated. When the elevator reached her floor, she paused, then finally said, ¡°Mr. Fletcher, this is my floor. Don¡¯t forget to press yours.¡± ¡°My grandpa lives on this floor too.¡± im Bonus For Free Every Day>> Dangerous 49 Chapter 49 Veronica¡¯s eyes went wide with surprise. Her apartment building had two units per floor. The only person living next door was¡­ Vernon. Vernon Fletcher¡­ Ashton Fletcher¡­ She snapped her gaze toward Ashton. There was no way it was that much of a coincidence, right? Ashton raised an eyebrow, his deep gray eyes seeming to see right through her. ¡°It¡¯s exactly that much of a coincidence.¡± With that, he stepped out of the elevator. Veronica stared at his tall, broad back and suddenly remembered how Vernon had been going on about his second grandson, who was supposedly living like a monk. So, it was him. The figure in her mind slowly ovepped with the one in front of her. Veronica would have never guessed it, but that¡¯s how small the world was. She steeled herself and walked out of the elevator. Ashton leanedzily against the doorframe, his eyes locked on her. He was clearly not nning to go inside. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Veronica asked softly, not daring to look too far up. Her mind was racing, trying to remember if she¡¯d ever said anything stupid in front of this grandfather- grandson duo. Ashton nced at the peri nt in her arms. ¡°Weren¡¯t you giving that to my grandpa?¡± Veronica blinked nervously. ¡°Y¨CYeah. Right. I¡¯ll leave it to you, then.¡± She shoved the peri into his arms and turned to unlock her door, practically fleeing into her apartment. Ashton stared at her closed door for a moment before letting out a quiet, amused breath through his nose. Back inside, Veronica dropped her things. She flopped onto the couch, , and her cheeks burned with dyed embarrassment. The ns she had made for the evening were all postponed. She ended up throwing together a bowl of noodles for dinner. At 9:00 pm, a message came through from Ashton. ¡°I¡¯m leaving. I left something for you at the door. Don¡¯t forget to take it.¡± Veronica blinked. She slid on her slippers and tiptoed to the door. After peeking through the peephole to make sure no one was outside, she opened it. At the doorstep sat a small, palm¨Csized box made of dark, polished wood. She picked it up and opened the lid. Inside was a round jar of white cream. A faint woody fragrance drifted up. It smelled¡­ familiar. It smelled kind of like Ashton himself. The thought startled her. Just then, across the hall, a door creaked open. Vernon stepped out, humming a tune, with a flower pot in his arms. ¡°Veronica! You¡¯re home!¡± he greeted. Veronica nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°My second grandson just left. Ugh! I should call him back,¡± he muttered, distressed. Veronica¡¯s scalp prickled. ¡°No, wait! Vernon, I met him already!¡± ¡°You did?¡± He perked up. Then, his eyes fell on the jar in her hands, and it clicked. ¡°Oh! So, you¡¯re the neighbour who gave me the peri!¡± It was no wonder Ashton showed up out of the blue. He usually never came by unless he needed something. And he even took a jar of Vernon¡¯s homemade scar cream! Vernon chuckled to himself, convinced he¡¯d pieced it all together. le cleared his throat and asked, ¡°Did that brat tell you how to use the scar cream? Ah, forget it. He obably didn¡¯t. Let me tell you.¡± Veronica¡¯s ears perked up. ¡°Wait, this is¡­ a scar cream?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. That brat begged me for a jar,¡± he emphasized every word, dropping a heavy hint. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Veronica, I¡¯ve got a medical license. This cream is safe. Trust me.¡± Veronica knew that Vernon liked gardening and sometimes made his own herbal incense to give away. She hadn¡¯t realized he was actually a licensed doctor. ¡°Thank you, Vernon. Let me pay you for it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s just some homemade stuff. It¡¯s not expensive!¡± He pretended to get mad at the idea of her paying. In the end, she gave in. She thanked him properly and headed back inside with the box in hand. On her phone, a new message hade in from Ashton. It was sent five minutes ago. ¡°Twice a day, morning and night. Apply at the corners of your eyes. Massage gently for three minutes.¡± Dangerous 50 Veronica instinctively touched the crescent¨Cshaped scar at the corner of her eye. It was from the time she was pushed off a stool at the Tate residence. Ashton¡¯s thoughtfulness left herpletely off bnce. Had he ever used the scar cream for those severe scars on his own hands? Ashton, who had been in the car, still hadn¡¯t received a reply from Veronica. Instead, a flurry of messages came in from Vernon. After ignoring the outrageous parts, Ashton pieced together that Veronica must¡¯ve run into him while picking up the package. Vernon had already exined the usage and benefits of the cream to her. So by now, she was probably home and had seen his message. Ashton¡¯s brows lifted slightly. Why hadn¡¯t she replied? ¡°Mr. Fletcher, regarding the sea route expansion, both the Lane and Tate families are making new moves. They¡¯re reaching out to the Thorne family, trying to poach them for a coboration,¡± William reported. ¡°Keep pressuring them.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± William maintained a calm tone. ¡°By the way, the scar cream we ordered for Ms. Dolton from overseas has arrived. Should I send it over?¡± Ashton¡¯s hand paused mid¨Cflip through a file. ¡°No. I gave her Grandpa¡¯s ointment.¡± William froze. ¡°Grandpa¡°? As in the legendary master of traditional medicine, Vernon Fletcher? The one whose remedies were said to cure anything and impossible to buy even with a fortune? And yet, he gave Veronica a jar? William felt a shiver down his spine. ¡°Ah¡­ got it. How lucky.¡± It had been over a month since Reynard had brought Samuel to Shalton. Outside of regr sses, Reynard had arranged for him to have a private etiquette tutor, drilling him in rules and rituals every day. Samuel was miserable. Finally, the weekend came. But even then, he spent the entire afternoon painting. Every time he paused, the strict teacher smacked his palm with a ruler. Heined to Reynard, but Reynard only snapped that he was pathetic. If he couldn¡¯t even handle Changfar 50 this, he wasn¡¯t fit to be the heir of the Tate family. Samuel was so upset that he wanted to cry. He never wanted to be the heir in the first ce. He missed his father and Eleanor. They never forced him to do things he hated. Even his mother never punished him this harshly, If only he and his sister hadn¡¯t stopped Veronica from retrieving her painting that day¡­ Would everything have turned out differently? Back then, Veronica used to bake cakes for them and y with them on weekends. Even if they didn¡¯t finish their homework, sheld just stay upte to help them. She had never once used a ruler on him. On top of that, there was the medicine he had to drink now. Now, Reynard made him drink three bowls of a ck, bitter, herbal concoction every day to strengthen his Even when Veronics made them herbal tonics, they never tasted this horrible. Vher finishing his painting session, Samuel had his allotted ten minutes of phone time. He tried calling leoncs,but she didn¡¯t pick up. So, wising his tears, he called Mitan. Min, has Mom gotten any bettertely?¡± When bed in you, she was still in the hospital. She didn¡¯t remember any of them. Meg¡¯s vice was cooters, ¡°How should I know? It¡¯s not like she¡¯s telling me anything, I¡¯m busy, okay? Do you need ayting deer Steve kore, ¡°You have gone to see Mom even once? 40 seborg dot me. That¡¯s good, too. From now on, I¡¯ll only have Ms. Turner as my mom. d to get back to packing I¡¯m going to live in Ms. Turner¡¯s new house. Bye.¡± so with a gout. The costidn¡¯t care less about her brothers dailyints. Becsve was taken to Shelton, he¡¯d been constantly calling her. top te was yong, the cold tell Reynard Wred Samuel more, so there was no way he¡¯d make Smoker Be warned to Samuel was just showing off. But yet at the was out to leave, the we doped by Walter, ¡®Ms. Tate, you¡¯re not allowed to go to Ms. Dangerous 51 Chapter 51 Miriam¡¯s temper red immediately. She dropped her suitcase and ced her hands on her hips, puffing up in her little princess dress. ¡°Walter! Who do you think you are, trying to stop me? Get out of my way! If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll tell Dad to fire you!¡± Walter¡¯s eye twitched as he forced out, ¡°Sorry, Ms. Tate. This is Mr. Tate¡¯s order. Ms. Turner is starting a new project and won¡¯t have time to take care of you.¡± ¡°No one takes care of me here anyway! Fine! I¡¯ll just move in and hire more maids!¡± Miriam¡¯s cheeks flushed bright red as she stormed toward the door. Walter maintained his professional front, blocking her path. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Mr. Tate will be arranging for Mrs. Tate to return and look after your daily needs. ¡°In addition, Mr. Tate Senior has appointed a tutor from Shalton to guide you in etiquette and academics.¡± At this point, Miriam lost it. ¡°I don¡¯t want any mom! I don¡¯t want any tutor! I¡¯m going to find Ms. Turner myself!¡± However, Walter didn¡¯t budge. Furious, Miriam began hurling objects at him. ¡°Walter! Move!¡± ¡°For one so young, she is shockingly spoiled and unruly, even resorting to striking others. This is hardly the conduct expected of a proper youngdy.¡± A stern female voice rang out from the doorway. Miriam froze mid¨Ctantrum. ¡°Who are you? This is my house! I can do whatever I want! It¡¯s none of your business!¡± A woman in a fitted ck suit stepped through the door, her hair perfectly pinned up. She adjusted her ck¨Crimmed sses, her expression serious. ¡°As expected. You¡¯re unruly and disrespectful. Even when guests arrive, you show no manners at all.¡± ¡°Ms. Terrell, thank you foring,¡± Walter said with relief, as if his prayers had been answered. Atst, someone who could manage Miriam had arrived. Miriam was constantly clinging to Eleanor and Heath. So, how could they ever develop a real rtionship with her between them? Now that Samuel was away, someone needed to take charge of her. Fortunately, Reynard had sent help. Miriam shrank under the woman¡¯s piercing gaze She felt frightened. The woman¡¯s demeanor made her feel like she might get eaten alive at any moment. Being sensible, she knew when to take a step back. She just had to get through that night, then she could find Eleanor tomorrow and never return to this awful house again. She thought that Veronica was the worst person ever. If she hadn¡¯t thrown a tantrum and run away from home, Miriam wouldn¡¯t be stuck here, suffering! Over the weekend, Veronica did aplete deep clean of her apartment. In her free time, she sketched out two new design drafts. On Monday, she officially returned to Novaro. Standing beneath thepany building, she felt a wave of emotion. When Courtney started the business, she was still in college. Their five¨Cperson team had set up a studio in a small rented space,nding one seemingly impossible client after another. Years had passed, and that small studio had grown into a recognized name in the industry. What was once a cramped room had be a full¨Cfledged office in amercial building. The only thing that hadn¡¯t changed was their passion. The entrance to the office had a security system. Veronica had nned to wait for another employee to pass by so she wouldn¡¯t have to bother Courtney to let her in. Just then, a woman in a cashmere coat walked by. She had her wavy hair tied up into a bun. She swiped herself in and entered, then promptly hit the door¨Cclose button, deliberately, locking Veronica out. Veronica nced at the woman again, thinking that there was something familiar about her. Renee lifted her chin arrogantly. She immediately recognized Veronica as the woman who had watched the whole scene unfold at the apartmentplex that Saturday night. Thinking that Veronica must have enjoyed watching her get humiliated, she felt that Veronica deserved whatever she got. Renee had deliberately pushed Veronica toward the flying brick. She thought it was a shame Eric was such a loser that he couldn¡¯t evennd the hit¨Cand an even bigger shame she didn¡¯t get to see Veronica¡¯s pretty face ruined. A flicker of malice crossed Renee¡¯s eyes. After the morning meeting, Courtney gathered the staff and announced two things. ¡°First, our creative director, Smile, is returning to thepany. I¡¯ll be introducing her to everyone shortly.¡± The room exploded at the news. ¡°Oh my gosh! The Smile? She¡¯s real! She¡¯s finally not just a name our boss keeps dropping!¡± ¡°I heard that she left the industry because of a secret marriage and had kids. It¡¯s such a waste of talent! Her designs got me through my senior thesis!¡± ¡°Is she hot? Please say she¡¯s hot! Did anyone see her downstairs?¡± im Bonus For Free Every Day>> im Dangerous 52 Ren¨¦e fiddled with her manicured nails, her expression full of disdain. It seemed the group of brown¨Cnosers was hyped up again. ¡°Seriously? All this for a stay¨Cat¨Chome mom who gave up her career for her family? Is that really worth celebrating?¡± Renee snidely remarked. At that moment, Courtney walked in with Veronica and caught the end of her sentence. Verona looked up at the speaker and realized it was that woman. Courtney frowned slightly and asked, ¡°Renee, do you have a problem with Veronica¡¯s return?¡± ¡°A problem? No. But I do have a suggestion.¡± Renee stood up, meeting Veronica¡¯s gaze directly. ¡°A creative director? You¡¯ve been out of the design industry for years. The industry¡¯s trends are always changing. ¡°I¡¯m only speaking out of concern for Novaro¡¯s future. Do you have any work today that¡¯s still worth showing? I mean something that still holds up, six yearster.¡± Veronica could detect the apparent hostilityced in her tone. Once, she had been a zing star in the design industry¡ªa creative genius in high demand. She thought that she¡¯d spend her life pursuing the career she loved. Then, she married Heath. He dismissed her passion as a waste of time and told her that instead of sketching and drafting, she should focus on being his wife and looking after his parents. After having kids, he insisted that she quit the studio entirely and focus on being a good mother. And she did. She poured all her attention into raising their children. Courtney had always been understanding. She waited for Veronica and even fought for thetter to attend a major international design exchange. When Veronica brought the good news home to Heath, she was met with his scorn. He couldn¡¯t understand her career. In fact, he despised it. That had been the source of their first fight. Their baby had cried the entire time. Veronica ultimately gave in. She gave up the opportunity and resigned from Novaro. That ache and numbing pain were still vividly fresh in her memory. However, none of that gave anyone the right to judge her. Veronica smiled faintly and said, ¡°Oh? The heart of design is expressing your own voice. Great work creates trends. You mentioned constant updates and iterations, but if the designer is truly exceptional, why shouldn¡¯t each version be even better? ¡°Ms. Pascar, are you saying that because you¡¯re unsure of your ability? Or are you just riding. on someone else¡¯s work because you¡¯re too weak to make it on your own?¡± The room went so dead silent that one could hear a pin drop. The rest of the staff looked positively thrilled. Renee faltered for a second, then snapped back, Is design something you just talk about now? If you¡¯re really that skilled, where is your work? haven¡¯t seen your name on any recent trend lists. Novaro is a business, not a charity. So, if you¡¯re here, speak with results, not rhetoric.¡± ¡°How convenient,¡± Courtney suddenly said, having just opened a new email. ¡°A month ago, Smile¡¯s three¨Cpiece spring and summer collection was officially selected by Heberly¡¯s owner as the centerpiece of their next season.¡± The room sucked in a collective breath. Those three designs were part of the spiritual awakening concept drafts that Veronica had tossed to Courtney. Courtney loved them so much that she included them in Heberly¡¯s pitch submission. Heberly was one of the most prestigious luxury fashion brands in the country. It was an old- money brand name under Fletcher Group and apany Novaro had been trying to partner with for years. Veronica, the new director, was a creative force to be reckoned with. Renee couldn¡¯t sit still when she heard the news. She eximed, ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± After all, she thought that Veronica was just a stay¨Cat¨Chome mother! Heberly had been her dream brand to work with. She¡¯d pursued it relentlessly for three years and never once made it to their core designer team. The few submissions she¡¯d sent were rarely even picked up. And now, the work of Veronica, who had just returned to the scene, was the centerpiece of the nextunch? Renee was in disbelief. Veronica hadn¡¯t expected Heberly to select her spur¨Cof¨Cthe¨Cmoment sketches. She had created them back when she was still using ¡°Smile¡± as her alias, when thepany had just started working with the brand. She had sent over a few drafts at that time. She figured that the boss of Heberly must have had a nostalgic streak. She thought that it was a total fluke. Veronica tilted her head and smiled, a glint of mischief in her eyes. She simply said, ¡°Let the work speak for itself.¡± Dangerous 53 Renee was about to explode from anger. Fuming, she stormed out of the conference room. Courtney didn¡¯t even blink as she was used to it. ¡°Veronica, don¡¯t take it to heart. That¡¯s Renee Pascar, one of our senior designers. She joined thepany the winter you left. She¡¯s not a bad person. She¡¯s just blunt. I think you two were in the same graduating ss.¡± Renee Pascar? Veronica didn¡¯t recall the name. But judging by the timing, she figured that Renee had probably filled her role after she left. At that thought, Veronica thought that Renee must be quite skillful and understood why she might feel a bit resentful about someone parachuting in. However, Veronica had no intention of indulging her attitude either. Courtney chuckled. ¡°Still, watching you stand your ground against her really brought back the old Smile. I missed that fire.¡± Back in college, Veronica had once lost points on a design assignment for a detail she disagreed with: She had chased down the department¡¯s most notoriously stubborn professor and debated him for three days straight. Ultimately, the professor gave in and revised her grade. From that day on, the fiery art school student was a campus legend. But yearster, Veronica had lost that fire. She had epted far too much without putting up a fight. Veronicaughed out loud. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to remember my dark history.¡± ¡°Dark? That was a glorious path.¡± Courtneyter shared the story with a few interns from Cresthill College¡¯s art program. As expected, their admiration for her practically lit up the room. ¡°Ms. Dolton, Professor Klein is known for being rigid, and you actually got him to give you your marks back? That¡¯s insane!¡± ¡°Is he still doing okay?¡± Veronica asked, looking a little wistful. Back before graduation, their professor, Daniel Klein, had genuinely believed that she would. shine in the design industry. He had ced great hopes on her. But instead, she left the field, got married, and let him down. They hadn¡¯t been in touch since. ¡°He¡¯s doing great! He¡¯s still healthy! But every year, he uses the example of a senior as a cautionary tale, warning us not to fall for love too easily, or it¡¯ll ruin our careers! Professor Klein actually keeps up with trends, can you believe that?¡± The intern rambled on, totally unaware that the very cautionary tale of that love¨Cbrained senior Professor Klein mentioned was standing right in front of her. Courtney cleared her throat and leaned in. ¡°Veronica, she doesn¡¯t know. She means no offense. 11 ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m not that petty,¡± Veronica said, smiling even more. She was genuinely doing fine now. If people could joke about her story, it meant that she¡¯d finally made peace with it. And if her failed marriage could serve as a warning to others, then at least it hadn¡¯t all been for nothing. Courtney added, ¡°Oh, right. There¡¯s another senior designer named Miranda Sinir. She¡¯s out on a business trip for an overseas fashion show. But when she heard you wereing back, she was thrilled. I¡¯ll introduce you two when she returns. She¡¯s great.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± ?? Veronica¡¯s desk was set up beside the interns from Cresthill College. One of them was a young woman with shoulder¨Clength hair and sun¨Ckissed skin. Two dimples would appear when she smiled. It was warm and endearing. She approached Veronica to greet her. ¡°Hi, Ms. Dolton! You can call me Felicia.¡± Veronica nodded politely. ¡°You can call me Smile or Veronica.¡± ¡°Then, I¡¯ll call you Veronica. You¡¯re amazing! I can¡¯t believe Heberly picked three of your designs for theirunch, and you made the front page! May I see your designs?¡± Felicia Stone was brimming with admiration for Veronica. Renee, who was passing by holding a ss of water, ground her teeth silently. ¡°Brownnoser,¡± she muttered under her breath. Felicia turned around, her expression one of innocent curiosity. ¡°Ms. Pascar, is there anyone with a brown nose in the office?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then, why did you say ¡®brownnoser¡® when you walked past me?¡± Veronica, who was sipping on her water, nearly choked. It turned out that sincerity was indeed the ultimate weapon. Dangerous 54 Everyone in the office turned to look. Renee gritted her teeth and said, ¡°You misheard. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with someone so stupid. Felicia replied, ¡°Oh, okay then. Ms. Pascar, you should speak a little louder next time. Otherwise, people might get the wrong idea.¡± ¡°If your cars don¡¯t work, go get them checked!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the money to do that.¡°. Renee nearly choked with rage. She turned around and mmed a thick stack of design prints onto Felicia¡¯s desk. She instructed, ¡°Sort these by year and category into aplete document, noting the key features. I want it on my desk by the end of the day.¡± Veronica frowned when she heard that. If she remembered correctly, all design drafts were digitally sorted before printing. Thus, this request was clearly just an act of bullying the intern. However, Felicia didn¡¯t argue this time. She took the stack calmly. Veronica had heard that the job market was roughtely. She figured that Felicia just had the kind of personality that preferred to avoid conflict. So, she asked, ¡°Do you need help?¡± Felicia puffed out her cheeks, waved her hand, and said, ¡°Nope! Veronica, she¡¯s doing this on purpose! Only a fool would do it! I¡¯m telling on her.¡± Veronica raised her brows, surprised. Felicia stormed off, her phone in hand. ¡°Ms. Sinir! That old witch is bullying your precious intern again while you¡¯re gone!¡± Veronica couldn¡¯t help butugh. Some things hadn¡¯t changed. Thepany might¡¯ve grown, but the people here were still as endearing as ever. At lunch, as Veronica was picking up her food, she heard Renee yelling on the phone in the hallway. ¡°Miranda, what the hell is wrong with you? Now, even an intern has something to say about my work? I¡¯m stupid? You¡¯re calling me stupid? Just wait. When you get back, you¡¯re dead!¡± Still shouting into the phone, she turned the corner and met Veronica¡¯s gaze. Rage surged within her again. She snapped, ¡°What are you staring at?¡± ¡°Your strap¡¯s fallen,¡± Veronica inly replied. Without giving Renee a second nce, Veronica calmly turned and walked away. That afternoon, Courtney pulled Veronica into an impromptu meeting. They had decided tounch a separate brand line under the neo¨CCinderone¨Cstyle clothing category, with rollouts in both online and retail stores. Veronica¡¯s workload would increase significantly over the next few weeks, as they needed toplete the first quarter¡¯s designs before the summer fashion shows. Felicia and a senior employee were assigned to assist her. Veronica buried herself in her sketches. She hardly slept or ate. But for the first time in a long while, she felt truly fulfilled. Three dayster, shepleted the first draft of her neo¨CCinderone¨Cstyle flowing gown collection. That night, Heath called her, and she immediately declined the call. The day after the new etiquette tutor, Laura Terrell, arrived at the Tate residence, Miriam was forcibly woken up at 6:00 am for recitation practice. She threw a massive tantrum, screaming and crying, refusing to get up. Laura simply stood by, stern and unbothered, waiting for her to finish. She didn¡¯tfort her at all. By the time Miriam exhausted herself from crying, she was starving and demanded breakfast. At the dining table, all the usual fancy breakfast items were gone. There were only in grits, ham, and eggs, along with a bowl of herbal tonic Miriam scrunched her face in disgust and yelled, I¡¯m not eating this rubbish! I want pancakes! II ¡°This is today¡¯s breakfast,¡± Laura said, pushing her sses up her nose bridge indifferently.¡± If you won¡¯t eat it, you may go hungry.¡± ¡°Then, I won¡¯t eat! I don¡¯t care!¡± Miriam huffed and stomped off to the yroom on her short legs. When she opened the door, she found it empty. She questioned, ¡°Where are my dolls? Where are my toys? Gina! Someone stole everything!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t stolen, Ms. Tate,¡± Gina Keeper, her nanny, said. ¡°Ms. Terrell took away your toys. If yuy don¡¯t ¨¦t¨¢ch pretting today¡¯s cos, you¡¯ll lose all toy privileges for the day¡± Marks on it and the bell to the ground, ling. ¡°This is child abuse! I want to see Dad! You¡¯re all abusing the Lantra focord done at the crying child, her expresionpletely unmoved. She also made sure that the others didn¡¯tfort her *Your father has returned to Shalton. He doesn¡¯t have time for your little dramas.¡± Dangerous 55 ¡°You¡¯re lying! You wicked old witch! You¡¯re lying to me!¡± Miriam shouted, refusing to believe Laura¡¯s words. She grabbed her phone to call Heath. But a momentter, Laura effortlessly snatched the phone out of her hand. ¡°You haven¡¯t finished reciting today¡¯s sos. So, you don¡¯t get phone privileges,¡± Laura said, her voice t and her expression stone¨Ccold ¡°Talking back to your tutor is a top¨Ctier offense.¡± Miriam sobbed even harder, overwhelmed and helpless. In an attempt to escape Laura¡¯s control, she even went on a hunger strike. After three full days of tantrums, Heath finally returned home. Miriam ran straight to him, unloading a mountain ofints. Heath was already stressed to the brink over the sea route issue. Hearing his daughter¡¯s petty grievances only drained him further. ¡°Miri, Ms. Terrell is doing this for your own good. Learning etiquette won¡¯t hurt you.¡± ¡°Dad, you¡¯re taking that old witch¡¯s side, too? You don¡¯t love me anymore! Nobody loves me!¡± Miriam burst into a full¨Cblown wail, tears streaming down her cheeks. Heath¡¯s head throbbed. Back when Veronica was around, their daughter never cried like this. But now, she cried over everything. He inwardly questioned what kind of parenting Veronica had been doing. For a fleeting moment, Heath actually missed how peaceful the house used to be when Veronica was still there. Now, his son was off in another city, his wife was never home, and the only one left with him -his daughter¨Cwas constantly throwing fits. He pressed his fingers to his temple, his voice turning cold. ¡°Miri, that¡¯s enough.¡± But the more he scolded her, the louder Miriam cried. Left with no other choice, Heath dialed Veronica¡¯s number himself. The ringtone yed from start to finish, but no one answered. His expression darkened further. He wondered what was so important that she couldn¡¯t answer his call. He turned and spoke to Laura in a lowered voice, asking her to be gentler in handling Miriam. However, Laura refused his request directly. ¡°If a child misbehaves, the father is at fault. Mr. Tate, you¡¯re I was sent here by Mr. Tate Senior. So, I only take orders from him.¡± Heath was rendered speechless. So, this was all his fault now? What about the mother¡¯s role in this? The image of Veronica¡¯s once¨Cstubborn and radiant face shed in his mind, and his mood worsened. He was determined to bring Veronica back. He couldn¡¯t believe that she dared to ignore his call now. He thought that she was getting increasingly out of hand. Heath instructed Walter to find out where Veronica was working, and the report came back that she was working at Novaro. He knew that it was Courtney¡¯s designpany, and it seemed like Veronica was getting back into all that fabric¨Cand¨Cneedle nonsense. Heath frowned, thinking that such a useless hobby shouldn¡¯t even exist. To him, it was aplete waste of time. Before the workday ended, Heath personally drove to the front of Novaro¡¯s office building. The high¨Cprofile Rolls¨CRoyce instantly drew attention. ¡°Oh my god, is that a Rolls¨CRoyce? I¡¯d have to starve for several lifetimes just to afford one of those!¡± ¡°Whose boyfriend is that? That car is insane! Is he picking up his girlfriend from work?¡± ¡°He¡¯sing out! He looks even better than the car!¡°. Excited chatter spread quickly among the employees who were gathered at the entrance. When the man stepped out of the vehicle, the crowd took notice of his handsome appearance. People couldn¡¯t take their eyes off him. Just as Veronica stepped out of the elevator, she spotted a particr ominous silhouette in the distance. She thought she was seeing things. The car parked outside looked exactly like Heath¡¯s car. Unease and disbelief fluttered in her chest as she walked to the building entrance. Her pace quickened unconsciously. It really was Heath. Veronica immediately lowered her head and pretended not to see him as she tried to slip through the small crowd unnoticed. Chapter $69 Dangerous 56 ¡°Veronica.¡± Heath¡¯s cold, detached voice called out to her. In an instant, the previously noisy atmosphere fell silent. All eyes turned toward Veronica and Heath, disbelief written across their faces. From behind the crowd, Rence was ready to step forward and casually start a conversation ¡ª just enough to spark a misunderstanding. But before she could move, the man suddenly addressed Veronica. Her eyes, sharp with jealousy, snapped to Veronica. She couldn¡¯t understand what made that in, ordinary woman so special. She quickly noticed Veronica¡¯s subtle movement, which was to walk the other way. Renee questioned if Veronica was still putting on an act trying to run away again. Heath¡¯s gazended on the petite figure in the crowd. Ever since he and Veronica parted ways at the restaurant, he hadn¡¯t seen her again. His voice was dry, his throat tight as he asked, ¡°Veronica, why did you ignore my calls?¡± ¡°Sorry; I thought they were spam calls,¡± Veronica replied, shrugging. Heath clenched his fists, his toneced with a hint of resentment. ¡°Even if you¡¯re out of the hospital, you¡¯re not supposed to stop your medication. And now, Miriam¡¯spletely out of control because you didn¡¯t discipline her properly. She¡¯s even refusing to eat.¡± Upon hearing that, Veronica¡¯s fingers clenched so tightly that they turned white. She wondered what had happened to their daughter, but then stopped herself. She couldn¡¯t let herself be pulled back in. Her lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°So what? Even if I am her mother, doesn¡¯t she have a father? Why is she acting like this?¡± ¡°Veronica, do you really have to talk to me like this? I¡¯m trying to have a civil conversation with you.¡± ¡°Was I not speaking properly?¡± Heath¡¯s voice turned harsh. ¡°What will it take for you toe back and take care of Miriam? Name your price.¡± He was giving in now, but his clear eyes held a trace of disappointment. They had managed to coexist peacefully for many years. He didn¡¯t know why things had to go wrong now and thought that women were nothing but trouble. ¡°Are you saying that I should abandon a promising career just to go back and be a full¨Ctime, around¨Cthe¨Cclock nanny to your child?¡± Her voice rang out calm and clear, snapping any coworkers out of their daydreams about some kind of domineering CEO romance. No one wanted to be a nanny to raise someone else¡¯s kid. Heath¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Do you have to make it sound so harsh? You¡¯ve been doing it for the past six years, and you neverined once. What made you turn into this person now?¡± ¡°Maybe I just got tired of being the one who always gets the short end of the stick.¡± Veronica let out a sarcasticugh. She was simply putting her life back on track. But to him, it looked like she had turned into someone else entirely. A bitter ache welled up in her chest. He could offer this thankless job of being a stay¨Cat¨Chome nanny to someone else. Fighting off the emotions rising within her, she replied deliberately, ¡°If you want me toe back, fine. But you, the mighty CEO of Tate Group, had better offer something worth my time. Heath¡¯s eyes turned darker. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Five million dors,¡± she replied, holding up five fingers. The onlookers around them gasped collectively. Heath was silent for a moment before finally giving in. ¡°If I pay you, will you stop causing trouble?¡± He realized then that Veronica was simply beating around the bush just to ask for money. He had, indeed, neglected her. At least that much was true. If money could bring peace, he was willing to pay for it. But if she stirred up any more trouble, he wouldn¡¯t let it slide again. Veronica smiled sweetly and said, ¡°Yeah. Five million dors a month, and I¡¯ll stay perfectly quiet.¡® ¡°What did you say?¡± His eyes narrowed, his voice sharpened. ¡°Five million dors a month?¡± He wondered if she thought that he was printing cash. ¡°What, can you not afford it?¡± Veronica deliberately prodded. ¡°If you can¡¯t, then don¡¯t waste my time.¡± Heath was starting to lose his patience. ¡°Veronica, are you toying with me?¡± He finally realized that she never intended to have a serious conversation from the start! ¡°Do you think that I¡¯d ask for five million dors as a joke?¡± Veronica lowered her gaze, feigning ignorance. Then, a voice rang out from the crowd, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll do it! If she won¡¯t, I will!¡± Dangerous 57 Renee saw her moment and stepped in. She said, Sir, Ms. Dolton has lofty ambitions. Her heart¡¯s clearly not in this. Please don¡¯t let her upset you. If you¡¯re looking for a capable household manager, I¡¯m avable.¡± Veronica¡¯s lips curled into a cold smile. Without saying a single word, she took a few steps back, making room for Renee. Renee seized the moment, stepping forward with a deliberate arch of her chest, her words loaded with meaning. ¡°What do you think, sir?¡± Her eyes glinted flirtatiously, her honeyed voiceced with suggestion. She had spent years grinding in the design industry and still had little to show for it. If she couldnd a man with money and power like this one, someone who could drop five million dors just like that, it would be her best shot yet But Heath¡¯s eyes were fixed on the figure slipping away in the crowd. His expression darkened as he snapped, ¡°Get lost.¡± Renee bit her lip, still unwilling to give up. She insisted, ¡°Whatever she can do, I can too. If she refuses, I¡¯m willing.¡± The way she hinted at it couldn¡¯t have been more obvious. Any normal man would¡¯ve reacted. However, Heath recoiled from her touch in disgust, his voice sharp and ice¨Ccold. ¡°I¡¯m really starting to question what standards yourpany uses to hire employees. I¡¯m seriously concerned for my wife¡¯s future here.¡± With that, he turned on his heel and stormed off to his car without a backward nce. Renee stood frozen, as if struck by lightning. Wife? Veronica was his wife? A wave of jealousy and fury surged within Renee¡¯s chest. She didn¡¯t know why fortune favored that woman. T Meanwhile, Veronica had just gotten home when Malcolm called. Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn¡¯t told him about anything that had happened with Heath. Malcolm¡¯s heart had been in poor condition over the past few years. As such, she was afraid that all her drama would take a toll on his health. Back when she was in the hospital, she had even begged Calvin to keep everything from him. Nervously, she answered the call. As always, Malcolm would ask her if she had already eaten. ¡°Sweetie, Calvin told me that you¡¯ve returned to designing. No matter how busy you get, make sure you eat, alright? Don¡¯t shortchange yourself. I¡¯m old, not useless.¡± His gentle voice came through the line. It sounded a little raspy but unmistakably kind, each word pressing right into her heart. Her eyes filled with tears. Malcolm had always been like this. No matter what happened, he supported her unconditionally. She swallowed the lump in her throat and, for the first time in a long while, said tenderly,¡® Got it, Grandpa. I¡¯ll make stewter. Don¡¯t worry I won¡¯t forget to take care of myself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± he said, pleased. Then, he added, ¡°By the way, the tenth of the next month is Reynard¡¯s 60th birthday banquet. This old bag of bones won¡¯t be making the trip, but when you and Heath go, bring him a painting.¡± Veronica didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°Alright, Grandpa.¡± In recent years, Malcolm hadn¡¯t been in good health and rarely painted anymore. In the past, he¡¯d always prepared something decent for Reynard¡¯s birthday, but never anything with a personal touch. But this time, she could tell that Malcolm was doing it for her. He didn¡¯t want the Tate family to look down on her. Tears rolled silently down her cheeks. She forced herself to remainposed during the call Only when Malcolm reminded her to grab a bite to eat did she finally hang up. Veronica washed her hands and cooked herself a proper dinner. Just as she finished, a message popped up from Calvin. ¡°Damn it! Are the media blind or what?¡± Dangerous 58 im Chapter 58 Calvin sent a link that led to a news article with the headline, ¡°Shocking News! Alleged Affair¨C Mr. Tate Caught With Mystery Woman! Ms. Turner Breaks Down on Set!¡± Veronica¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and a sinking feeling began to churn in her gut. She clicked on the link, and there it was¨Cpaparazzi photos taken earlier that day outside her office, of her and Heath. The angles at which the photos were taken were deceptive and deliberately misleading. Even though their faces had been pixted, to anyone unaware of the real context, the pictures appeared to show two people flirting, caught up in something intimate. Naturally, that was precisely how the gossip site wrote it up. ¡°Mr. Tate Rolls Up in A Luxury Ride to Pick Up New me After Work¨CHot and Steamy. Poor Eleanor Left in Tears.¡± Thement section beneath the post was a battlefield. Eleanor¡¯s fans were out for blood. Over the past six months, Eleanor and Heath had frequently trended online, sparking endless spection about their rtionship. To Eleanor¡¯s fans, their rtionship was fact. They believed that Heath, the handsome, powerful heir to Shalton¡¯s elite family, was Eleanor¡¯s perfect match. A fandom had even formed around their ¡°ship¡± called Eleath. Eleath4EVER: ¡°Who¡¯s this cheap vixen trying to seduce our Heath? Back off, skank!¡± EllysButterfly: ¡°This is such a staged photo. How much did that woman pay the paps? Disgusting.¡± ILoveEleanor: ¡°Well, but Eleanor isn¡¯t bothered. Heath¡¯s already picking her up from the set right now.¡± HeartEyes4E1: ¡°I can¡¯t stand the smug look on that bitch¡¯s face! Does anyone know her handle? Tag her! I¡¯ll end her!¡± Veronica scrolled through thement section, her expression nk. At this point, there wasn¡¯t even room for anger. She just felt bitter amusement. She was grateful that she¡¯d never been into social media. If she had, she might have lost her mind seeing strangers hurl venomous words at her while she, the legal wife; was painted as the homewrecker. She had nned just tough it off and move on. However, she¡¯d underestimated just how frenzied Eleanor¡¯s fans could be. That night, someone leaked the uncensored version of the photos, revealing Veronica¡¯s face and full name. ¡°Veronica Dolton! A woman from a modest family in Jouver. Orphaned at a young age, she lost both parents. She worked at Tate Group for six years!¡± FightMeDumbass: ¡°Ha! Figures! She¡¯s just a social¨Cclimbing skank! If your dead parents could see you now, they¡¯d be ashamed!¡± Veronica¡¯s hands shook as she read thatment. She couldn¡¯t believe their audacity. What right did these people have to speak about her parents? And still, the storm raged on. Alleged Tate Group employees started joining the online chatter, offering firsthand dirt. ¡°Ms. Dolton has always been shady! She¡¯s always looking for excuses to be alone with Mr. Tate. We were sick of her! She took constant time off, and her work sucked!¡± ¡°Do you want to know why Veronica suddenly left after six years? She tried to climb thedder higher. Mr. Tate kicked her out on the spot and considered a resignation to save her some dignity!¡± Veronica felt stunned and confused as she read those lies. She hadn¡¯t wronged these people. So, why would they go out of their way to nder her like this? The online mob even stormed Novaro¡¯s official ount, demanding that they fire her. Veronica couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She started personally replying to those ounts. However, it didn¡¯t have much of an effect. In the end, she verified her ount and, for the first time in years, posted a public statement. Veronica: ¡°Don¡¯t speak if you don¡¯t know the whole story.¡± To her surprise, the post didn¡¯t go unnoticed. Instead, it sparked a new wave of hatred from Eleanor¡¯s followers. AlwaysElForever: ¡°LMAO! Look at her ying victim. Ugly and loud? What abo. Apologize to Eleanor!¡± Ellovely: ¡°Bitch, stop acting innocent. We all know how you tried and failed to steal her man!¡± Weak El: ¡°Why aren¡¯t you dead yet? You should die like your parents did! Your whole family deserves to rot!¡± Dangerous 59 Hatefulmentspletely overran Veronica¡¯s ount. Thements were a frenzy of insults, each one worse than thest, all expressing their hope that she would fall apart. But Veronica had never felt moreposed. She called Calvin, telling him to keep an eye on Malcolm and make sure he stayed offline. ¡°Veronica, I¡¯ll reach out and have someone to bury the trending topics,¡± Calvin said, clearly worried. Veronica calmly took screenshots of every nderousment aimed at her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. They¡¯reing for me. It¡¯s toote to pull anything back now.¡± At that very moment, Eleanor posted an update. EleanorTurner: ¡°A new bag cures all! Bye, bad vibes!¡± The post included a photo of a limited¨Cedition designer bag worth seven figures. In the corner of the image, barely visible, was a pair of men¡¯s luxury dress shoes. The pose was deliberate, being toe¨Cto¨Ctoe with Eleanor¡¯s stilettos. The message was clear¨Cthe two were intimate. Her fans immediately swarmed the post, leaving their praises. TeamTurner: ¡°Ah! So, they¡¯re really together! Thank goodness the misunderstanding¡¯s cleared up!!! PinkBubbleGum: ¡°That other woman couldn¡¯t measure up to a single toe of our queen. Her even trying is the biggest joke of the year. ElsSweetestPie: ¡°That¡¯s so cute! Good vibes all the way! Are we getting an engagement announcement soon?¡± Eleanor rarely broke her silence in thements, but this time, she replied to ElsSweetestPie with a single crying emoji. That alone was enough. Her fans were immediately back in full force, now even more convinced that she was the victim. They unleashed hell on Veronica all over again. In just a few short hours, Veronica¡¯s post was flooded with hundreds of thousands of hatements. The scandal became the trending topic everywhere. Meanwhile, Heath was workingte into the night, locked in meetings about the sea route project. When he finally saw the rumors circting online, he was stunned. His initial response was to consider the entire situation absurd. He asked, ¡°Who authorized the trending post? Is the PR department at Tate Group dead?¡± Walter hadn¡¯t expected Heath to care this much, and a flicker of surprise crossed his mind. ¡°Mr. Tate, you were in the middle of a crucial meeting. We didn¡¯t want to bother you with something this trivial. That¡¯s my mistake.¡± Heath scrolled through the barrage ofments People were attacking Veronica¡¯s character, and even her parents. He frowned, thinking that Eleanor¡¯s supporters really didn¡¯t hold back. Heath pressed his fingers to his temple and said, ¡®Make an official statement on ourpany ount. rify my rtionship with Veronica.¡± Walter hesitated and lowered his voice. ¡°Mr. Tate your marriage has always been kept private. If you reveal it now, Mrs. Tate¡¯s identity might have a significant impact on thepany¡¯s stock. Please think it through.¡± The air in the meeting room suddenly turned frigid. Heath looked up at him, his gaze cold and icy. ¡°Walter, since when does Tate Group let you make decisions?¡± ¡°N¨CNo, Mr. Tate. I¨CI wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± Walter stammered, quickly lowering his head. A soft knock on the meeting room door broke the tension. Eleanor entered, her eyes full of tears. She covered her mouth as she walked to Heath¡¯s side, softly sobbing. ¡°Heath, I¡¯m so sorry¡­ I didn¡¯t know that the fans would be so emotional. If I had known, I would have definitely tried to stop them. I would¡¯ve stopped them from attacking Veronica.¡± Heath looked into her tear¨Cfilled eyes. Eleanor¡¯s eyes were slightly rounded, ssy like crystal. When she cried, they bore a slight/ resemnce to Veronica¡¯s. He felt a tug in his chest, and his voice lost a bit of its edge as he said, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. It¡¯s simply the media stirring up trouble for attention.¡± ¡°Heath¡­¡± Eleanor sat down beside him and tugged on his sleeve. ¡°Those fans are young and immature. Some of them are still students. They only said those harsh things because they thought I was being hurt. ¡°They were just trying to defend me. I¡¯ll be a better role model for them from now on. Can you please not go after them?¡± C Dangerous 60 hapter 60 ¡°Eleanor, you¡¯re just too kind,¡± Heath said, his gazeplicated. Even towardplete strangers, Eleanor still tried to think on their behalf. In contrast, Veronica didn¡¯t even care about her own children The thought pulled his mood down with it. ¡°Forget it. Since you¡¯ve said not to pursue it, then we¡¯ll drop it.¡± He turned to Walter and instructed, ¡°Have someone suppress the trending posts. Don¡¯t let it get out of hand.¡± Just like that, he said nothing more about revealing his rtionship with Veronica. Since she hadn¡¯t taken the initiative to make it public, there was no reason for him to do it for her. After all, this whole thing had ultimately started because of her. If Veronica had only behaved and simply epted her role as Mrs. Tate, none of this drama would have happened. Eleanor gently probed, asking, ¡°Heath, what about Veronica? Should I help rify things for her?¡± Heath sneered. ¡°No. Let her take the hit this time. This will teach her what it means to be on her own. Once she¡¯s separated from the Tate family, no one will protect her!¡± Relief washed over Eleanor, and a glint of triumph shed in her eyes. ¡°Veronica, your man won¡¯t shield you anymore. I¡¯ll take everything you have, one thing at a time. This time, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re utterly ruined,¡± she inwardly vowed. Overnight, Veronica came to understand what it truly meant to be abandoned when the walls came crashing down. Even so¨Ccalled former ssmates she hadn¡¯t seen in years began ¡± exposing¡± her online. ¡°Veronica was two¨Ctiming back in college. She¡¯s incredibly maniptive. As for Eleanor¡¯s fans, don¡¯t worry. Based on my 20¨Cplus years of singlehood, I can swear that Mr. Tate would never go for a woman like her.¡± Veronica was rendered speechless. She captured the entire post, including its timestamp, via a screen recording ten seconds before it was deleted. When Courtney messaged to ask if she wanted to take the day off, she politely declined. She believed that what needed to be faced had to be faced. She couldn¡¯t keep letting others take the fall for her. But after seeing the chaos unfold online, her resolve shifted. She no longer wanted a divorce and to walk away quietly. Veronica didn¡¯t think she should be the one to step aside so this cheating couple could receive the world¡¯s blessings. She believed the scumbag and the mistress deserved to be nailed to the pir of shame together. Veronica¡¯s license te was exposed that day. Just as she pulled out of her apartmentplex, a group of strangers suddenly swarmed around her. They held up water guns, spraying her directly in the face. Some even hurled rocks at her. ¡°Homewrecker bitch, die! How dare you show up here!¡± ¡°Makeup won¡¯t cover your dirty, ugly face! Watch me drench you!¡± ¡°Trying to steal Eleanor¡¯s man? Go take a look in the damn mirror first!¡± This was clearly an organized and premeditated attack, as the people were wearing masks and hats to hide their faces. Veronica shielded her face and pulled out her phone, pressing the record button and aiming the lens at them. She threatened, ¡°Go ahead. Keep it up. If you¡¯re an adult, be ready to face legal consequences. If you¡¯re underage, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure your parents get properly educated on your behalf.¡± ¡°Look at this slut trying to threaten us! Who do you think you are?¡± ¡°Wow, she¡¯s using thetest phone! Which old man¡¯s bed did you climb into this time? How dare you scream at us! Guys, let¡¯s smash her phone!¡± The group didn¡¯t back off at all. In fact, they got even more aggressive and began charging toward her. Veronica stepped back a few paces and hit the emergency rm button by the security booth at theplex entrance, triggering a sharp siren to re through the air instantly./ Outside the booth, a dozen security guards in ck uniforms came rushing out with batons in hand. ¡°You there, at the gate! What the hell are you doing?¡± Chapter 613 Dangerous 61 Chapter 61 ¡°You bitch! You¡¯re asking for help? Everyone, run!¡± The whole group scattered in fear, The head of security recognized Veronica as a resident of the apartmentplex. ¡°Ms. Dolton, are you alright? Do you want us to take you to the hospital?¡± Veronica wiped the water off her face. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you. There may be suspicious individuals lingering outside theplex for a while. If you see anyone, please give me a heads -up. The head of security looked serious. ¡°Ms. Dolton we¡¯ll be increasing our patrols over the next few days. We¡¯ll make sure nothing like this happens again. And next¨Ctime, if you need to, let us know before you head out. We¡¯ll escort you to your car.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Veronica nodded. She was relieved that she had chosen this apartment after leaving the Tate residence. Even though they were just security guards, they took their duty to protect the residents seriously. Because of this incident, Veronica ended up beingte to the office. Even though Courtney had already issued a strict order forbidding gossip, curiosity was hard to suppress. Everyone kept sneaking nces at Veronica. No one expected the new director to be at the center of such a huge scandal so soon. After the morning meeting, Renee couldn¡¯t hold back her snide remarks. ¡°Well, well, well, isn¡¯t this our director? Late on her second day? What a power move. Honestly, if this whole inte buzz keeps up, maybe you should just switch careers and be an influencer.¡± Courtney mmed down a file and snapped, ¡°Renee!¡± ¡°What, Courtney? I can¡¯t even crack a joke now? You¡¯re seriously biased.¡± Renee sneered, locking eyes with Veronica as if she were challenging her. Veronica held Courtney back and smiled faintly. ¡°Let¡¯s speak with results.¡± With that, she had delivered the ultimate pback. Just that one single line had stung Renee again. Renee¡¯s voice rose sharply as she mmed a hand against the table. ¡°Don¡¯t think that getting your design picked by Heberly makes you hot shit! With this kind of scandal, who knows if the brand will even let your design reach production? Don¡¯t be celebrating too early!¡± Heberly was a brand known not only for its rigorous selection of designs but also for conducting thorough background checks on every designer it worked with, Thepany had impossibly high standards when it came to character. Chapter 61 Once, one of Heberly¡¯s in¨Chouse designers, whose work had been wildly popr, was caught driving under the influence. That very day, Heberly pulled every single one of their pieces from stores and cklisted them for life. Now, with Veronica caught in a scandal as messy as this, people were starting to assume the coboration between herpany and Heberly was about to go down the drain. Renee¡¯s words were like a reminder to Veronica. Heberly cared deeply about character, not just the work itself. She had forgotten about that. At worst, she might lose the deal altogether. Veronica stayed silent, and Renee¡¯s gloating only grew more obnoxious. ¡°Before this incident blows up even more, you might as well resign! It¡¯s only your second day, and you¡¯ve already turned this ce upside down¡± ¡°Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!¡± A sudden shriek cut through Renee¡¯s tirade. Felicia came running over, waving her phone. ¡°Heberly just made an announcement! Veronica¡¯s design was chosen as the main feature of their new collection!¡± ¡°No way! Don¡¯t try to fool us with some edited news!¡± Renee scoffed, waving Felicia off dismissively. Felicia shrank back a little but quietly swiped through her phone screen. She showed an official post from Heberly¡¯s verified ount,plete with the blue checkmark. The brand¨Cnew collection was titled ¡°Premonition¡°, and the main cover image was unmistakably Veronica¡¯s design. The post was even pinned at the top of their page. Renee¡¯s pupils dted. She didn¡¯t know how this could happen. Just yesterday, she had investigated Heath¡¯s identity, put together a whole PR scheme, and leaked those photos. Her entire n was to frame Veronica as a homewrecker and get Eleanor¡¯s fans to tear her apart. Dangerous 62 Chapter 62 Ren¨¦e had been confident that a brand like Heberly, one that didn¡¯t tolerate even a speck of filth, would definitely scrap Veronica¡¯s design. When that happened, Veronica could forget about ever holding her head high in front of her again! Renee questioned why and how this could happen. She wondered why Veronica¡¯s design was not only epted but was outrageously chosen as the featured highlight and pinned to the top. Renee lost it. She snapped, ¡°There has to be a mistake! Heberly must¡¯ve screwed up! There¡¯s no way it would ept Veronica¡¯s design! Thepany probably hasn¡¯t been online yet and hasn¡¯t seenst night¡¯s news! That¡¯s it! ¡°Once they see it, Heberly definitely take the post down. It¡¯s not like they¡¯ve never done that before!¡± Felicia looked at her like she was aplete idiot and muttered, ¡°Heberly usually takes at least a month to finalize a design and release the promo, but there was an official announcement about Veronica¡¯s designs in under three days. As for the reason, take a wild guess.¡± Renee had no interest in guessing. ¡°And besides, Renee, do people your age just not like going online? Heberly¡¯s official ount is always at the forefront, chasing thetest hot topics. It even made it to the trending search list!¡± She shoved her phone right in Renee¡¯s face. At this point, Heberly¡¯s official ount had already posted ten announcements featuring Veronica¡¯s designs. Every single post was full of over¨Cthe¨Ctop praise. There was not even a hint of online gossip that influenced their judgment. Renee¡¯s chest heaved in anger. She couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She stormed out, mming the door behind her. Felicia stuck her tongue out at Renee¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°You nosy bitch, go eat shit!¡± Then she turned to the dazed Veronica, her eyes filled with admiration. ¡°Veronica, hats off to you¨Cseriously! I¡¯ve never seen Heberly go to bat for someone like this. You¡¯re a legend!¡± Veronica couldn¡¯t make sense of Heberly¡¯s move. She wondered if her design was just that good, but felt doubtful about it. After all, there were plenty of outstanding designers in the industry. She had just returned to the design scene, and hertest work didn¡¯t even have a tenth of the brilliance she once had. She didn¡¯t think that it could be out of sentimentality, since Heberly had once coldly cut tles with a designer who¡¯d worked with them for eight years just because of a DUI. They hadn¡¯t even hesitated. Veronica simply couldn¡¯t figure it out. Meanwhile, public opinion online was shifting dramatically thanks to Heberly¡¯s announcement. Sparksing: ¡°Wow, the new collection is stunning and so unique! The designer¡¯s name looks familiar. Have they worked with Heberly before? MushroomHater: ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t this Veronica the same one trending for allegedly messing with Eleanor¡¯s rtionship? Heberly, what are you thinking?¡± TwoAfterTwo: ¡°Everyone knows that Heberly never works with any designer who has a tarnished reputation. Dropping ten back¨Cto¨Cback posts today? It seems like they¡¯re defending her publicly.¡± PrettyPrincess: ¡°Regardless of the drama, this collection is gorgeous! There¡¯s always some rumor flying around online. There¡¯s definitely more to this story.¡± Here4Drama: ¡°I¡¯m just here for the tea. But honestly, all the paparazzi had were a few blurry pictures. There¡¯s no real proof. Eleanor¡¯s fans came at her like rabid dogs. It was scary as hell.¡® Stay5Ever: ¡°Rumor has it Eleanor¡¯s still in talks with Heberly for a brand deal. This is going to get messy.¡± ElsFavorite: ¡°Heberly? Eleanor loves your brand, and now you¡¯re partnering with her? Backstabbers!¡± As thement section turned into a chaotic battlefield, Veronica received an invitation from Heberly¡¯s director. ¡°Ms. Dolton, our boss is especially fond of your work and would love to feature you in a dedicated design interview. Would you be avable toe by Heberly¡¯s office?¡± Courtney handed Veronica the phone while she was still deep in thought. Designers who made it onto Heberly¡¯s exclusive interview page were industry legends, with iconic works to their name. Now, Veronica was even more confused. She bluntly asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that my current situation could damage the brand¡¯s image?¡± Her questions were met with a brief silence on the other end. ¡°Some might say that the innocent have nothing to fear, and time will tell the truth.¡± The director chuckled softly. ¡°Ms. Dolton, you¡¯re someone the Heberly team chose to protect. No Chapter 62 matter what happens, we¡¯ll always stand behind you.¡± Dangerous 63 Veronica had not expected that answer from the director of Heberly, She had imagined every scenario, even the worst conspiracy theories. However, the truth turned out to be tant favoritism,id bare and undisguised. After a long pause, Veronica finally spoke. ¡°Thank you.¡® Even if it were all just for show, she would ept it. Before hanging up, she made a promise.¡± I won¡¯t let Heberly down.¡± On the other end of the line, the Herberly director smiled faintly as he ended the speakerphone call. He turned toward the man seated at the head of the table. ¡°Mr. Fletcher, Ms. Dolton¡¯s emotions are stable for now. You can rest assured.¡± The man¡¯s half¨Clidded gray eyes opened slightly. ¡°Good. I want you to personally oversee her project.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The interview with Heberly was scheduled for three dayster. The Novaro team had already sent over a liaison to review the questions that would be asked during the session with Veronica. Veronica began preparing her answers in advance and drafted a script. Both parties went through the flow ording to n beforehand. With Heberly backing the coboration, online public opinion quickly shifted. Veronica approached this project withplete dedication. She had also made up her mind. After work, she would return to the Tate residence and retrieve her copy of the marriage certificate. That document would serve as the sharpest weapon if the need ever arose. It could prove her rtionship with Heath beyond all doubt. At the next desk, Felicia had been in unusually high spirits all day. She spent most of her time hovering around Veronica, reciting thetestments left by fence¨Csitters in the online ¡°Eleanor¡¯s fans are still trying to do damage control! They pinned everything on the paparazzi, saying it had nothing to do with her and Heath. If Courtney hadn¡¯t told us not to, I swear I would destroy them all online!¡± Veronica could not help butugh. ¡°You have suffered, Felicia. Trust me. It will be over soon.¡± ¡°No way! I¡¯m having a great time watching the drama unfold. Ugh! That loudmouth is at it again!¡± Felicia¡¯s smile vanished abruptly, and she could no longer sit still, ¡°What is it?¡± Veronica asked, looking up. Her eyesnded on Felicia¡¯s screen, where Renee had just posted an Instagram story. The caption read, ¡°Honored to be there in person Designers who only thrive on drama should stop chasing clout already. Mr. Tate only invited her to his residence to be a nanny. But she got greedy and wanted too much! I have had enough I¡¯ll take responsibility for every word I have said!¡± After the tense morning meeting, Renee had left thepany on a sudden leave of absence. No one expected her to post something so overtly targeted on her ount. That vague im of ¡°wanting too much¡± clearly referred to the alleged five million dors Veronica had demanded from Heath each month. But to outsiders unaware of the context, it sounded more like she was trying to im the title of Heath¡¯s wife. Veronica¡¯s gaze turned icy. Renee had always tailored her online image as a fashion¨Cforward designer and had nearly 200 thousand followers. Unsurprisingly, herment section was already filled with loyal fans eager to defend her. Nightnight99 ¡°Finally, someone with morals. So stunning, yet so kind. I knew that Dolton bitch could not be trusted. Even her coworkers had called her out. What excuse could she possiblye up with now?¡± MintyCandy: ¡°That tramp is trash. She¡¯s so fake that even people who have no issue with her can no longer tolerate it. Isn¡¯t she tired of the act? Stop leeching off our queen and her bae!¡± PhoenixUnite: ¡°Heberly is going to lose all its credibility because of designers like her. I¡¯m going to puke.¡± Louis616: ¡°Just because someone saw something with their eyes doesn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t fabricated. People are often used as pawns. Could the fans think for once? Just wait until the truth flips again, then everyone will be scrambling to clean up her mess. Oh, it¡¯s the paparazzi¡¯s fault again. Don¡¯t make meugh.¡± Veronica read all of it in silence. She took screenshots of every page as she went, keeping a record of everything. Chapter 64 Dangerous 64 Chapter 64 Courtney was also furious when she found out about Renee¡¯s post. She said, ¡°I¡¯ll call her right now. I¡¯ll make her delete it.¡± She reached out to Renee, but the woman kept a low profile and didn¡¯t respond. Her phone was switched off. Veronica poured a ss of water for Courtney and said, ¡°Forget it. If we try to make her delete it now, it will only appear as if we are trying to cover something up. Let her have her moment as an inte celebrity.¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Veronica.¡± Courtney covered her face, guilt written all over it. Veronica blinked in confusion. ¡°What are you apologizing to me for?¡± Courtney paused. ¡°Wait. Did you think of something already?¡± ¡°The building¡¯s security cameras. Those are still working, right?¡± Veronica gave a slight chuckle. Courtney let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I cannot believe I forgot about that!¡± Veronica retrieved theplete surveince footage from the previous afternoon. She saved and backed up the file to her phone. Then, she headed to the Tate residence to retrieve her final piece of evidence. Just as she was gathering everything she needed, someone unexpected stood up for her. Jocelyn_Tillman: ¡°Ms. Dolton is a kind person. She would never force her love onto someone who belongs to another.¡± . Jocelyn¡¯s public statement nearly overturned the online narrative that Veronicacked integrity and had no friends to defend her. In truth, others had tried. Courtney, due to her position, was unable to voice her opinions publicly. Calvin had tried to rally support for Veronica online, but their voices were too few to make an impact. Jocelyn, however, was one of the most popr young actresses in the entertainment industry. As such, her words carried weight. The moment she spoke up, all those usations of Veronica pursuing fame and being a drama queen were instantly invalidated. In terms of influence, Jocelyn had even surpassed Eleanor, who had been out of the spotlight for years and was only now nning aeback Jocelyn had a spotless reputation within the industry. She was talented, professional, and had never resorted to cheap tactics to gain publicity. Aside from her romantic links, she had never been involved in scandals. At this critical moment, during the peak of her Arclight Awards nomination period, her Chapter decision to take a public stand gave Veronica the strongest support possible. Everyone online was stunned. The buzz across trending topics escted rapidly. Renee¡¯s attempt at a public smear had backfired entirely. She was mocked and taunted, even by casual passersby online. HehaDa: ¡°Clout¨Cchasing? You¡¯re the one trying to sell stuff on your livestream. Who¡¯s leeching off whose poprity, again?¡± Even Eleanor¡¯s ount became the target of ridicule from onlookers. Here4Drama: ¡°Stop ying dead, Ms. Spotlight. Jocelyn has already made her stance clear. Your attitude just dragged someone¡¯s name through the mud for no reason.¡± At the same time, Tate Group also issued an official statement. ¡°Ms. Dolton¡¯s employment contract with thepany had ended as scheduled. Her departure is not rted to any online spection. The employee responsible for spreading false information had already been dismissed.¡± This allowed Veronica¡¯s former colleagues to stand up for her. ¡°Veronica rarely came into the office, but she alwayspleted her work in advance. She never dumped tasks on anyone else! Not only that, but she only took time off to care for her child. She¡¯s married! We have all seen how much she loves children with our own eyes. She is absolutely not the greedy woman the inte portrays her as. Wake up, people!¡± Tate Group¡¯s official social media ount pinned thisment. Some previously neutral onlookers who had once supported Eleanor were now so frustrated by the constant reversals that their goodwill had soured into anger. Every word of support they had once given her now turned into a knife and was stuck back. Renee was bombarded with so much criticism that she had to eventually disable herment section. Eleanor¡¯s face twisted with fury as thest ss she could grab in the lounge shattered on the floor. Her temper exploded the moment she saw the two new trending searches that hadpletely flipped the narrative. ¡°Are those idiots blind? They can¡¯t see the truth for themselves, so now they are ming me?¡± Dangerous 65 Chapter 65 ¡°Were all those meals with Heberly¡¯s people a waste of time? How could the brand choose to back someone like Veronica at a time like this? She¡¯s nothing but a designer with no name of reputation at all! Has thepany gone insane, or is it trying to ruin itself?¡± Eleanor snapped Her nails scraped against the wooden tabletop, leaving deep marks in the grain. Her manager, Bobby Burke, looked grim. ¡°Eleanor, be careful of what you say. If someone with an agenda overhears, they might twist your words. We¡¯ve already asked around. Heberly has finalized their spokesperson.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°Jocelyn,¡± Bobby replied. ¡°It¡¯s her? Of course it¡¯s her!¡± Eleanor could no longer sit still. ¡°I was wondering why that aloof phony suddenly came out to defend Veronica. She was sucking up to the brand! And none of you worthless idiots caught the signs at all?¡± Bobby tried to exin, saying, ¡°Eleanor, Heberly keeps things close to the chest. It took a lot of effort just to get thepany to agree to two dinner meetings.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear your excuses. Get out!¡± ¡°Take the time to calm down,¡± Bobby said as he walked out of the lounge. As soon as Bobby left, Eleanor furiously called Archie. The moment the call connected, her voice broke into sobs that traveled clearly over the line. ¡°Archie¡­ They are all bullying me¡­¡® ?? ¡°What happened, Eleanor? What¡¯s going on?¡± Archie tensed immediately the second he heard her sobs, his chest tightening. However, Eleanor refused to exin. She only kept crying on the other end, grief¨Cstricken. ¡°El, please don¡¯t cry. It breaks my heart when you cry.¡± Archieforted her patiently. He had been overwhelmed for the past few days, trying to recover from the losses incurred due to the disrupted shipping routes. So, he had not been following the drama online. Between sniffles and tears, Eleanor twisted the truth until it was barely recognizable. She said, ¡°Archie, don¡¯t me Jocelyn. Perhaps she just wanted to work with the brand too badly, so she lied for Veronica. ¡°As an actress, I can also understand how she might feel that way. I just feel so awful. No one will listen to me. You¡¯re the only one I can talk to.¡± Archie¡¯s fury instantly red. ¡°El, leave this to me. I¡¯ll make things right for you!¡± Chapter 65 Veronica was off¨Climits as she had a husband. However, Jocelyn was just a mere girlfriend of his, so she was still within his reach. ¡°I¡¯ll make her delete the post and apologize to you in person. She¡¯ll give up the deal with Heberly!¡± Eleanor blinked in feign innocence as she said, Archie, would that not be too cruel to her?¡± Archie exploded. ¡°Cruel? She brought this on herself. One does not get to take what does not belong to them. I was blind to let her get this far Once this mess is over, I¡¯m breaking up with her!¡± He thought that Eleanor was being too kind. Even after being humiliated, she remained worried about the one who had hurt her. Heath was another useless person in his eyes. After all, Heath had not even stepped up to defend Eleanor. If he could not protect her, then Archie would have no problem taking her for himself! He determinedly called Jocelyn nearly a hundred times before the line finally connected. Jocelyn sounded tired when she asked, ¡°What is it, Archie?¡± ¡°What was that post supposed to mean? Do you have any idea what you¡¯ve done to El?¡± he roared into the phone. He did not even ask her why she hadn¡¯t answered earlier. ¡°Archie, let me exin. Ms. Dolton-¡± ¡°Enough! I know exactly what kind of woman Veronica is¨Cmore than you do! Delete the post immediately and reject the endorsement deal with Heberly. You must also apologize to El in front of everyone. You twisted the truth for your own benefit!¡± Silence fell on the other end of the line. Just as Archie¡¯s patience began to run dry, Jocelyn finally spoke again. ¡°Archie, why didn¡¯t you visit me that night at the hospital?¡± she asked. ¡°That was ages ago!¡± he retorted. ¡°Answer me.¡± 11 ¡°I was swamped with work, obviously! Do you think I have time to y around like you ¡°I see.¡± ¡°And? You still have not answered my question!¡± Jocelyn wiped away a silent tear and gave her reply. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m busy right now. I¡¯m currently on a flight overseas. If you need anything, message me. Goodbye.¡± The call ended abruptly. do?¡± For the first time since they had gotten together this once obedient, gentle woman had gone against him. ¡°Jocelyn Tillman!¡± He immediately redialed her number, hundreds of times in a row, only to be met with a cold, mechanical voice. Jocelyn had switched off her phone. He threw his phone across the room in rage. ¡°Fine. When youe back, you¡¯d better be ready to kneel and beg for forgiveness!¡± Enjoy Ad¨CFree Reading>> Dangerous 66 Veronica stepped into Hillside Vi. She was surprised for a moment that the fingerprint lock on the front door still worked for her. The moment she entered the house, a young girl¡¯s piercing cries rang out loud. ¡°I don¡¯t want to recite the sos anymore. I don¡¯t want to write! I don¡¯t want to memorize the etiquette rules!¡± ¡°Five more to go. Finish them, and then you can have dinner,¡± Laura said firmly. From across the room, Miriam spotted Veronica standing at the door. Her eyes lit up with delight when she saw her mother. It seemed that Veronica had finally finished throwing a tantrum and was back to serving and caring for her again. In that case; there was no need for Miram to keep tolerating Laura. I ¡°Old hag, I¡¯m calling the police! This is child abuse!¡± Miriam raised her voice deliberately, exaggerating every word. She was sure that once Veronica heard, she¡¯d take her side and sh with Laura without hesitation. Back when Miriam first started preschool, she once identally fell asleep during ss, and the teacher scolded her. She reported it to Veronica right away. That very day, Veronica had apanied Miriam to the school to confront the teacher in person. After that, the teacher never dared to say a single harsh word to her again. A glimmer of mischief flickered in Miriam¡¯s eyes. She thought that watching that old hag go up against Veronica would surely be entertaining Laura had also noticed the figure standing in the doorway. With just one nce, she knew that this woman was the true mistress of the house. Her brow furrowed slightly. From what she knew, the children¡¯s biological mother doted on them immensely. Given the current situation, any mother would likely find this intolerable. Thus, Laura figured that she would need to exin the situation to her properlyter. Laura quietly braced herself for Veronica¡¯s usation as she watched thetter walk into the living room. As Veronica walked past them, she simply gave Laura a polite smile as a gesture of greeting. Then, without saying a single word, she headed straight up the stairs. Miriam stood frozen in shock, wondering why Veronica hadn¡¯t said anything. She couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Mom!¡± she shouted, about to run after her. ¡°Sit.¡± Laura ced a firm hand on Miriam¡¯s shoulder, her tone even stricter than before. ¡® ¡°1 Disrespecting your elders and Ignoring discipline Five more sos for you today.¡± Miriam¡¯s mouth trembled, and she was on the verge of tears. But the stern look in Laura¡¯s eyes made her swallow it all back down. She could already foresee what would happen if she started crying. Her homework would only double again. Why had Veronica not spoken up for her? Had Veronica really forgotten about her? Veronica reached the second floor and headed straight into Heath¡¯s study. Back then, Heath had taken their marriage certificate from her right after their wedding. He didn¡¯t even let her take a photo to remember it by Upon further thought, she figured that he had probably wanted to prevent her from revealing that she was his wife and hurting the feelings of his precious first love. Veronica searched the filing cab where he usually kept essential documents, but found nothing. Then, she remembered the time he had taken out their prenuptial agreement from the safe. She started to form a theory. She entered Eleanor¡¯s birthday as the passcode, and as she expected, the safe opened easily. She retrieved her copy of the marriage certificate from inside. Then, she ced the two certificates side by side and took photos and videos as backup. After returning Heath¡¯s copy to its original ce, her gaze fell upon a wrinkled, yellowing piece of paper in the corner, which had been glued back together. It was the same prenuptial agreement she had once torn to shreds. ???? Dangerous 67 Chapter 67 Veronica wondered if Heath was nning to keep that piece of paper just to disgust her for the rest of her life. If that were his intention, she had to admit that he had seeded. Veronica took a deep breath as she retrieved the paper. She pulled out a lighter from the drawer and burned it down to ashes. After everything was done, she restored the study to its original state. Just as she stepped out of the door, she ran straight into Eleanor, who was wrapped in a bathrobe. Eleanor asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I?¡± Veronica leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed. She immediately noticed the ring red mark on Eleanor¡¯s corbone. She thought that it was absolutely disgusting and wondered if they were that desperate. If so, why hadn¡¯t Heath divorced her yet? A flicker of panic shed across Eleanor¡¯s face. ¡°Veronica, don¡¯t misunderstand. There¡¯s nothing between me and Heath. We¡¯re innocent¡­ She clumsily tugged at her bathrobe, as if trying to hide herself. The moment she started talking, her tear¨Cfilled eyes began to well up performatively. It was as if Veronica had truly pushed her into a corner. If it weren¡¯t for the present situation, Veronica would have given Eleanor a standing ovation on the spot. Thetter clearly hadn¡¯t been given her acting skills for nothing. The ability to cry on cue was not something just anyone could master. However, it wasn¡¯t much of a difficult guess as to why Eleanor was putting on a show for her. Veronica figured that Heath would be arriving any moment now. ¡°What happened? Veronica? What are you doing here?¡± Heath stepped out of his room the very next second, his shirt cor slightly askew. The moment he saw Veronica, his expression faltered. ¡°What did you do to Eleanor?¡± he demanded. Veronica could hardly contain herughter. ¡°She was running around the house in a bathrobe. What do you think I could have done to her?¡± She had returned to her own home, yet both the mistress and her husband were questioning her presence. If it were up to her, she would never have set foot in this filthy ce again. Unfortunately, she was a step toote. ¡°Veronica, watch your words.¡± Heath stood behind Eleanor and gave Veronica a reproachful look. ¡°Eleanor only came to use our bathroom because her ce is still under renovation. Stop CHROMELO reading Into things.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Every guest room in this vi had a private bathroom. Yet, Eleanor had to pick the one in his bedroom. If she recalled correctly, Heath¡¯s bathroom wasn¡¯t exactly gilded in gold. Veronica¡¯s gaze moved slowly between Heath and Eleanor,ced with a hint of mockery, Heath grew increasingly uneasy and asked, ¡°Did you back because of what is happening online? I already told you, if you would just focus on your role as my wife, none of this would have happened. Have you learned your lesson yet?¡± He had only intended to give her a warning and never expected things to spiral out of control. He had thought of stepping in, but couldn¡¯t find a good moment to do so. Given the current situation, he could not afford to let the public know that he was married to Veronica, as that would destroy Eleanor¡¯s career entirely. Fortunately, Archie had his little girlfriend Jocelyn step in and defend Veronica, giving Tate Group a way to respond publicly. Heath figured that Veronica must have realized by then that she was no match for the powers operating behind the scenes. That must be why she had returned home. Heath waited for Veronica¡¯s reply. However, she didn¡¯t bow her head in guilt as she once would. Her clear, unwavering eyes locked onto him, and word by word, she said with perfect rity, ¡°Heath Tate, I want a divorce.¡± Theposure drained from Heath¡¯s face. ¡°Veronica, why are you still stuck on this nonsense? Have you learned nothing from what happened online?¡± ¡°Mr. Tate, please get things straight. What happened online was your doing, not mine. ¡°If I really were your wife, what exactly have I done to deserve this kind of cruelty from you?¡± Veronica slowly rolled up her sleeves, revealing bruises on her forearm where small stones had struck her skin. The injuries weren¡¯t severe, but they looked gruesome at first nce. Ellopter ex Dangerous 68 Chapter 68 ¡°Take a good look,¡± Veronica said quietly, pointing to the crescent¨Cshaped cut by her eye.! Every single visible wound on my body is because of you.¡± Heath choked on his breath. ¡°You lost your memory. So as far as I¡¯m concerned, none of this counts,¡± he retorted. ¡°And what if I told you that I didn¡¯t lose my memory?¡± ¡°Cut the nonsense. Do you think a hospital diagnosis can be faked?¡± Veronica let out a cold, hollowugh. Heath only ever believed what was convenient for him. As for their marriage, what had it ever brought him, besides a live¨Cin maid? Heath flinched at herughter. His gaze fell on the bruises along her forearm, and a faint trace of guilt rose within him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t know,¡± he said, pulling a gold credit card from his wallet. ¡°There¡¯s no spending limit on this. Buy whatever you want. Consider it my way of making it up to you.¡± Hearing a sincere apology from him was a rarity. ¡°Sure.¡± Veronica took the card without hesitation. She no longer felt any guilt about using his money. He owed her¨Cevery cent. There was no point in pretending otherwise. The moment Veronica epted that card, Heath finally realized just how much she had changed and thought that it might be for the best. With everythingid bare, there was nothing left between them anymore. He figured that things would return to how they used to be once her memory came back. ¡°Wonderful! Veronica¡¯s not mad anymore!¡± Eleanor forced a bright smile and stepped forward, trying to grab Veronica¡¯s arm. ¡°That means you¡¯re staying tonight, right?¡± Veronica was disgusted at just the thought of her touch. She pulled away and sidestepped the contact. A secondter, Eleanor performed a perfectly timed fall right there onto the floor. ¡°Eleanor!¡± Heath rushed to her. Her bathrobe had slipped halfway down, exposing one bare shoulder. Heath didn¡¯t even blink and pulled her into his rms without the slightest hesitation. ¡°Veronica, what the hell are you doing?¡± he snapped, ring at her. Veronica casually flicked the gold card in her hands, her lips curving into a faint smirk. ¡°What? The camera by the door is still on. Use your head and go take a look.¡± With that, she turned and headed downstairs. Still lying in Heath¡¯s arms, Eleanor shot a sheepish nce upward. She inwardly cursed, wondering when they had installed a camera there. Heath no longer bothered about Veronica and turned to Eleanor, asking, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just lost my bnce. It wasn¡¯t Veronica¡¯s fault,¡± Eleanor murmured as if she was wronged. However, this time, Heath did not press further ¡®You¡¯re not a child. How can you still be this careless?¡± Eleanor¡¯s heart skipped. She didn¡¯t know why he wasn¡¯t scolding Veronica like he used to after hearing her words. She had the unsettling feeling that something was slipping from her grasp. She refused to allow that to happen! Eleanor extended her long legs, brushing them gently against Heath¡¯s pants. ¡°Heath, don¡¯t be mad at me. I¡¯m in so much pain¡­¡± His eyes darkened, and his voice was low and hoarse as he warned, ¡°Eleanor, stop it.¡® She wound her arms around his neck and leaned in close. Her soft breath brushed against his ear. ¡°Heath¡­ Don¡¯t you want me anymore? It really hurt¡­¡± Heath grabbed her waist, trying to hold her still but the woman in his arms only grew more restless. It had been a long time since Veronica left. Since then, he had not touched another woman. ¡°Eleanor.¡± Heath¡¯s voice dropped even lower. He was still a man, after all. Eleanor¡¯s fair cheeks flushed pink as she nibbled gently on his earlobe. She teased sweetly, Heath, I want you¡­ Let¡¯s finish what we started in the room, okay?¡± Heath¡¯s hand tightened around her waist. ¡°Dad? Ms. Turner? What are you doing?¡± ¡ü Dangerous 69 Miriam frowned as she watched Heath and Eleanor embracing in front of her. These days, she had been shing with her teacher, Laura, at every turn. Yet despite that, the lessons had unknowingly nted some clear¨Chealed ideas in her mind. One in particr stuck, with her family came first, and that one should love their family, but not blindly. Laura had once told her a story. A married man became entangled with another woman, who forced her way into the household and drove out the wife. The mistress gave birth to her own child while relentlessly tormenting the first wife¡¯s child endlessly. However, that child never fought back. When the mistress grew old, he still cared for her, whilepletely abandoning his biological mother. When Miriam heard that story, she first thought of her father and Eleanor. Still, Eleanor was so gentle and kind to her. There was no way she would be the cruel stepmother in that story. So, Miriam had scoffed and paid no heed to Laura¡¯s teaching. She was convinced that she would never be the kind of foolish child who showed blind devotion. As her sses continued, she had tried several times to beg Eleanor to take her away. Each time, thetter agreed right away, but when the day came, she would always say that she had to postpone because of a filming schedule. Miriam began to develop a temper of her own. Now, seeing the scene in front of her, something unpleasant stirred in her chest. ¡°She fell, so I helped her up,¡± Heath said, his expression neutral. Miriam studied him, a hint of suspicion in her eyes. Indeed, Eleanor used to fall all the time, and Heath would help her up, but something about that day felt off. It was as if something else would have happened if she hadn¡¯t shown up. She could not make sense of it, and her irritation only grew by the second. Eleanor noticed her unease. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Miriam? Are your sses over?¡± she gently asked, pulling herself away from Heath¡¯s arm. The mention of ss made Miriam¡¯s expression darken even further. She stomped over loudly and squeezed herself between the two adults. She tugged at the hem of Heath¡¯s shirt and asked, ¡°Dad, where is Mom?¡± Heath was a little surprised that she brought up Veronica on her own. He asked in return, ¡± What is it?¡± Miriam pouted, her voice filled with expectation. ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise me that she¡¯d return to take care of me? I just saw her go upstairs, Wheres she now? This was the first time Miriam had ever ignored Eleanor in this mantier. Eleanor¡¯s heart skipped a beat. All this time, she had purposely dragged things out and refused to bring the young girl home so she could have more alone time with Heath. Who would have thought that Miriam would already start to pull away from her after just a few days apart? Eleanor thought that Miriam was such an ungrateful brat. Still, she kept her expression calm as she gently patted Miriam¡¯s head. ¡°Your mom a ready left.¡± ¡°What?¡± Miriam shouted, yanking even harder on Heath¡¯s shirt. ¡°Dad, you said she was staying this time! You lied to me!¡± Caught off guard by his daughter¡¯s sudden outburst, Heath¡¯s expression turned ugly. His mind shed back to thest time he saw Veronica. Thetter had said that she would no longer serve as his full¨Ctime on¨Ccall nanny. Now, with Miriam acting like this, he could understand why she had said that. His voice turned cold as he said, ¡°Miriam Tate, are the housekeepers here not enough to take care of you? Your mother isn¡¯t your maid. She has no obligation to be at your beck and call. It looks like your,teacher hasn¡¯t been strict enough with you. I¡¯ll talk to her.¡± Miraim had never seen Heath speak to her so sternly like that before. All she wanted was for her mother to be with her. She didn¡¯t see anything wrong with that. However, under Heath¡¯s stern gaze, she could not get a single¨Cword out in response. As soon as she opened her mouth, she burst into tears and wailed, ¡°You don¡¯t love me! Not a single one of you loves me! I¡¯m just some unwanted kid! I hate you!¡± ¡°Miriam Tate!¡± Heath snapped,pletely losing all patience. Eleanor quickly pulled the sobbing child into her arms and patted her back soothingly. Then, she looked at Heath gently and said, ¡°Heath, she¡¯s still just a child. How can you talk to her like that? I don¡¯t think that the teacher is being lenient. If anything, the pressure might be too much. ¡°You¡¯ve been so busy, and she hasn¡¯t had her mother around to confide in. That¡¯s why she¡¯sshing out like this.¡± Miram buried her face in Eleanor¡¯s arms, her small body trembling as she cried. chapter 70: Chapter 70 Dangerous 70 Every single word out of Eleanor¡¯s mouth resonated with Miriam. Naturally, only Eleanor truly understood her. There was no way Eleanor could be the evil stepmother that Laura, the old hag, imed she was! Miriam sobbed even harder at the thought of her father turning out just as awful as Veronica. Heath saw how upset Miriam looked and could not bring himself to scold her any further.¡± You¡¯re too soft on her.¡± Eleanor gave a faint smile before saying, ¡°Alright, alright. It¡¯s my fault. Still, I don¡¯t feelfortable leaving Mira like this. Why don¡¯t I take her to stay with me for a while? I¡¯m wrapping up my current shoot soon, so I won¡¯t be as busy as I was before. With me around, at least she¡¯ll feel safer.¡± Miriam¡¯s sobs softened once she heard Eleanor¡¯s intentions. She realized that Eleanor hadn¡¯t left her behind on purpose. She was just too busy Miriam looked up at Eleanor through eyes that were watery and grateful. Eleanor met her gaze, smiled warmly at her, and gently wiped her tears. ¡°You crybaby. Don¡¯t cry anymore. I¡¯m taking you home, okay?¡± Miriam broke into a big smile and was just about to nod when she remembered that Heath hadn¡¯t agreed to it yet. She turned to him again, a pitiful look in her eyes. In the end, Heath gave in with a sigh. ¡°Thanks for everything, Eleanor.¡± If only Veronica were half as understanding, their family would not have turned out the way it did. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble at all. Your daughter is my daughter, too. Plus, I¡¯m really fond of Mira.¡± Eleanor smiled sweetly. She felt that she had to get this clingy baggage out of the house. Otherwise, the child would get in the way of her ns. She believed that things would be different once she and Heath slept together and had a child of their own. Eleanor nced down at the girl in her arms, her smile never quite reaching her eyes. After leaving the vi, Veronica finally saw the post from Jocelyn defending her online. She was stunned. After all, she had turned down Jocelyn¡¯s request to be her fashion consultant, despite Harry bringing it up to her countless times. Veronica had weighed the pros and cons carefully and did not want to turn goodwill into leverage. Moreover, she knew that Archie, the obnoxious bastard, would definitely give her grief if he learned that she was Jocelyn¡¯s fashion consultant. It would onlyplicate things further if that were to happen. She didn¡¯t want that. Veronica had asked Harry to pass along a message to Jocelyn, saying it was just a small favor and she shouldn¡¯t feel indebted. She assumed that would be the end of it and never expected Jocelyn to speak up on her behalf, Her heart softened. She called Harry, and by coincidence, Jocelyn happened to be with him. So, she thanked her personally over the phone. ¡°Ms. Dolton, I should be the one thanking you. If it weren¡¯t for you that day, I don¡¯t know what kind of situation I¡¯d be in right now. ¡°Also, I saw Heberly¡¯s post highlighting your design. If I initially sought you out as my fashion consultant because you saved me, now it¡¯s because I genuinely love your style. ¡°Please reconsider it. I look forward to working with you.¡® Everything Jocelyn said sounded heartfelt and genuine. Veronica could tell that she meant it. So, she said, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll think about it and get back to you soon.¡± They didn¡¯t chat for long, and the call ended quickly. Meanwhile, the rumors online linking Veronica and Heath together were wiped clean overnight. As for Eleanor, one of the people involved, she even announced two new endorsements¨Cboth on par with Heberly in terms of prestige. Veronica could immediately tell that this was Heath¡¯s way ofpensating his first love for all the trouble she went through. Dangerous 71 Three days as promised, Veronica arrived at Heberly for her interview. A receptionist at the front desk led her to the lounge. At that moment, Kate, who had juste from headquarters for a training exchange, caught a fleeting glimpse of someone passing by. She recognized the person instantly. It was Veronica! Thinking about all the online buzz with Veronica and Heath over the past two days, Kate could not help curling her lips into a sneer. She thought it was pathetic. So what if Veronica had married into a wealthy family? She was trying to y in a league way out of her ss. Kate had beenughing at Veronica for a while now, but she hadn¡¯t expected Heberly to step in and save this failure. She wondered if Veronica had perhapstched onto some executive at Heberly. After all, she believed that the woman had no real skills, but she certainly had an endless array of seductive tricks up her sleeve. Jealousy quickly reced the smile in Kate¡¯s eyes. It only took a little digging to confirm her suspicions¨CVeronica was here for an interview. It seemed that Veronica really hadnded someone big! Kate excused herself and stepped aside to make a call. This was Veronica¡¯s first time interviewing at this level, so she was a little nervous. Heberly had assigned a professional makeup artist to help her get ready. ¡°It¡¯s such a shame that you¡¯re not a model, Ms. Dolton,¡± the makeup artist said as he gently traced her brows. Veronica¡¯s features embodied a ssic beauty. Her skin was smooth and luminous, her nos delicately shaped, and her almond¨Cshaped eyes drew people in with just a nce. The makeup artist rarely came across eyes this stunning in the industry. He barely had to think, and a light touch was all it took to bring out a striking, camera¨Cready look. Veronica offered a shy smile in response to hispliment. Heberly had alreadypleted the mock¨Cup based on her designs. She happened to be wearing a sample piece of her design that day¡ªa white, vintage¨Cstyle dress with elegant cuts incorporating traditional floral patterns. The moment she stepped out, she drew everyone¡¯s attention. Her beauty was effortless an Chapter 71 natural. The makeup artist clicked his tongue in admiration. Soon, a staff member came to escort her to the interview room. Even the staff¡¯s expression faltered for a beat when they saw her. She was indeed breathtaking. Their attitude became noticeably more attentive, ¡°Ms. Dolton, you¡¯ll be speaking to our host today Ms. Coco Geller. She might have a sharp tongue, but she sees right through people. She likes to joke around too, so don¡¯t let it make you nervous.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Veronica said, her smile faint. She walked into the interview room to find the cameras already set up. ¡°Ms. Geller should be here shortly. Please make yourselffortable in the meantime.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Two chairs sat facing each other in the room. Veronica took a seat in one of them. About half an hourter, the door opened, and a woman dressed in a crisp white pantsuit entered. Her ck hair was pinned up, and her lipstick was a deep, bold shade of red. Her features were sharply defined with a cool, unapproachable air. Veronica took the initiative and greeted her. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± The woman gave a curt nod in return. She walked in and dragged the chair opposite Veronica a bit farther back. Then she took a seat, a digital tablet in hand, tapping away without saying a word. There was no indication that the interview would begin anytime soon. Veronica waited patiently for a while longer. When she was certain that the woman was still busy, she quietly began reviewing the interview questions in her mind. She couldn¡¯t quite remember a few of the prompts. So, she pulled out her phone, hoping to refresh her memory. Dangerous 72 Chapter 72 ¡°Ms. Dolton, I believe it¡¯s basic courtesy not to use a phone during an interview.¡± The woman¡¯s dissatisfied voice carried across the table. Veronica smiled, noticing the frozen frame of Vege Samurai lingering on the screen as the woman closed the game. She did not argue. Instead, she said, ¡°Apologies, Ms. Geller.¡± Only then did Coco nce up and give her a proper look. ¡°Clothes make the man, I suppose. Thepany really went out of its way to find you such a ttering outfit.¡± ¡°Shall we begin?¡± Veronica replied patiently. Coco set herptop aside, her expression nk. ¡°Why the rush? Before we officially start, I¡¯d like to discuss a few topics.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Ms. Dolton, after all this time away from the spotlight, what made you suddenly return to the career you once abandoned? Was it a marital crisis?¡± ¡°That seems irrelevant to the theme of this interview.¡± ¡°Fine. Then let¡¯s talk about something relevant.¡± Coco¡¯s smirk deepened, as if she had anticipated Veronica¡¯s deflection. She continued, ¡°Ms. Dolton, the moment you returned, you managed to secure a coboration with Heberly. Is that really the result of a designer who¡¯s been inactive and unknown for six years? Was it your work that drew them in, or your body?¡± There was nothing subtle about the question. Coco might as well have called Veronica a gold- digger who used her body to her advantage. This no longer had anything to do with being ¡°sharp¨Ctongued¡± or it being a ¡°joke¡°, as the staff had mentioned. It was sheer hostility. Veronica smiled calmly and said, ¡°Ms. Geller, you seem unusually interested in my personal life. I¡¯m curious. Have you actually taken a look at my designs?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Coco replied coolly, clearly annoyed by her attempt at changing the topic. ¡°You still haven¡¯t answered my question.¡± However, Veronica did not respond and simply maintained her poised smile. Coco grew even more certain that Veronica was hiding something. ¡°Fine. Silence is considered an answer too. I¡¯ve seen plenty of designers like you who rely on their kind of ¡®skills¡® in this industry. I didn¡¯t expect to find one at a brand like Heberly. Honestly, it¡¯s quite disappointing.¡® Her eyes swept over Veronica with undisguised disdain. She had no choice but to ept this interview assignment from her higher¨Cups, but she could still make it miserable for Veronica. She figured that if Veronica had any self¨Cawareness, she would walk away. If she didn¡¯t, a public outburst from her would make things easier to handle. Coco flipped open her script perfunctorily, waiting for Veronica tosh out. However, she heard thetter ask her a casual question instead ¡°Ms. Geller, do you like the outfit you¡¯re wearing today?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Coco answered. It was a custom suit from an indie designer. She had fallen in love with it at first sight in a boutique, even though it was an old design from six years ago. Many people thought women in suits looked stiff and boring, and this style had never been considered mainstream. Coco smirked inwardly. She didn¡¯t doubt that Veronica was trying to make some snidement about her poor taste. ¡°I see. Thank you for appreciating my work.¡± Veronica smiled gently, not showing a hint of anger in her expression. . ¡°What? What did you just say?¡± Coco froze for two seconds, then snapped, ¡°You¡¯re not seriously iming you designed this, are you? That suit is by a designer named Smile. Sure, she faded from the scene six years ago, but that doesn¡¯t mean you get to ride her coattails.¡± Veronica didn¡¯t get offended. Instead, she reminded kindly, ¡°Try checking the inner seam of the left sleeve.¡± This suit was part of a limited women¡¯s collection she had designed for an indie brand specializing in bespoke suits, before she left the industry. The moment Coco walked in, Veronica recognized it. Fashion changed fast, but after all these years, someone was still wearing her design. Veronica was quite moved to see that, even though this woman clearly harbored a deep bias against her. Coco hesitated, then lifted the sleeve to check. Inside the cuff, a delicate cloud¨Cshaped embroidery had been stitched into the lining. It was something she had never noticed before. When she looked closer, the strokes formed the letters ¡°VD¡°. ¡°There¡¯s no way you designed this,¡± Coco sputtered. ¡°I have no reason to lie about something that can be easily verified,¡± Veronica said as she rose from her seat. Coco opened her mouth, struggling to respond. She could not refute it. Unless there were unusual circumstances, designers did not need to hide their identities. All it would take was a little digging to confirm the truth. Dangerous 73 Veronica lowered her gaze and smoothed the creases in her skirt. Her voice remained calm and even as she said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what gave you such a strong bias against me, but I¡¯ll assume it wasn¡¯t intentional.¡± With that, she turned to leave. Coco¡¯s mind was a mess. Before she could stop herself, she blurted out, ¡°Where are you going? The interview hasn¡¯t even started.¡± ¡°We can end it here,¡± Veronica said as she stopped by Coco¡¯s side. ¡°Maybe take a closer look at the featured collection Heberly asked me to lead. She nced over her shoulder and continued, ¡°The piece I¡¯m wearing now¨Cit¡¯s a mock¨Cup.¡± ¡°Thank you for appreciating my work.¡± Her final remark cut Coco like a knife. Coco¡¯s expression turned ugly in an instant. She recalled what she had said when she walked in earlier. ¡°Thepany really went out of its way to find you such a ttering outfit.¡± She suddenly wanted to return to that moment and strangle herself. She thought that Veronica was being way too petty. Coco had simply asked a few questions, and Veronica had stormed out of a Heberly interview just like that. No one had ever dared to do that before. Also, it seemed that the useless woman, Kate, had really set her up this time! Meanwhile, in the lobby, Kate had no idea what had just gone down in the interview room. Earlier, she had already tipped off her old college senior¨Cnow an interviewer for Heberly- about Veronica. She heavily implied that Veronica had gotten the deal through questionable means. Coco always acted high and mighty and despised women like that the most. Kate could practically guess how Veronica¡¯s interview would go. After all, Coco¡¯s sharp tongue had never spared anyone. She hoped that Veronica was sobbing her eyes out in there. So, after the tour ended, Kate didn¡¯t rush to leave. She stayed in the lobby, eager to watch Veronica fall t on her face. The elevator¡¯s red light blinked as it reached the first floor. Kate stared at the doors as they slid open. The second she saw that familiar figure, joy bloomed across her face. Veronica had really been kicked out! ¡°Oh, what a coincidence, Veronica. I didn¡¯t expect to see you at Heberly at this time,¡± Kate chirped, her eyes gleaming as she searched Veronica¡¯s face for any hint of disappointment. However, there wasn¡¯t a single trace of any of that. Kate cursed under her breath, thinking that Veronica was too good at pretending. Veronica had been wondering why Coco hade at her with such explosive hostility. Now, seeing Kate standing there, everything clicked into ce. Her smile turned frosty as she retorted, ¡°If you can be here, why can¡¯t I?¡± ¡°You¡¯re already being kicked out, but still trying to act tough, huh?¡± Kate¡¯s smile stiffened.¡± Don¡¯t think that your bedroom tricks can get you everywhere. Getting through Heberly¡¯s doors was pure dumb luck.¡± ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re awfully interested in having that kind of luck,¡± Veronica said, smirking. ¡°How many bedsheets did you have to get tangled up in to be standing here today?¡± Kate nearly exploded. ¡°Veronica, drop the act! I know you¡¯re crushed right now! Do you have any idea how prestigiou a Heberly interview is? They wiped your name off the list just like that. People like you will always be trash, no matter where you go!¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m devastated.¡± Veronica clutched her chest dramatically, as if her heart might break on the spot. Inwardly, though, she was doing cartwheels. Stewart¡¯s daughter was so clueless, it was almost painful to witness. Veronica struggled to hold back herughter. Fortunately, she had time that day. So, she figured that she might as well humor Kate a little. ¡°Then, get lost already!¡± Kate snapped. That was when Heberly¡¯s director, Howard Fisk, rushed over. ¡°Ms. Dolton, wait!¡± He had missed the beginning of Veronica¡¯s interview that morning because he was stuck in a presentation at headquarters. When the higher¨Cups found out, they immediately sent him back. Howard had rushed straight to the interview room, only to find Coco sitting there alone. The moment he saw her dazed face, he had a sinking feeling in his gut. Coco looked up, startled. ¡°Mr. Fisk? What are you doing here?¡± Howard never interfered with the Interview department. Dangerous 74 ¡°Where¡¯s Ms. Dolton?¡± Howard asked urgently. ¡°Oh¡­ You¡¯re here for her? She left,¡± Coco said. ¡°The interview ended that quickly?¡± ¡°Not exactly¡­¡± Seeing Coco hesitate, Howard pressed, ¡°What happened?¡± Her lips curled as she said, ¡°That designer of yours? She¡¯s arrogant as hell. I was just trying to lighten the mood with a few questions, and she insisted on ending the interview. What a hot temper. I can¡¯t afford to entertain a diva like that.¡± Coco knew that she had handled it poorly, but she was not about to take the fall for it. She couldn¡¯t figure out why Howard had suddenly be so interested in some unknown designer. Veronica was gone now, so what could he even do about it? It¡¯s not as if he would bother to review the interview footage himself. She was convinced that Veronica had only gotten this far by using her body, not through talent. That thought alone gave her confidence. She didn¡¯t feel the need to tread carefully anymore. However, Howard¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Pull up all the footage from today¡¯s interview,¡± he said, his voice low and firm. ¡°Mr. Fisk, there¡¯s really no need for that,¡± Coco said nervously. ¡°It¡¯s all unusable. I already deleted the files.¡± Her stomach flipped, but her years in the industry helped her remainposed. ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ll just check the surveince footage then.¡± Howard said before he turned and walked out. Coco stood there, dumbfounded. By the time she tried to stop him, it was already toote. After he watched the footage from start to finish, he exploded in rage. ¡°This is the diva you were talking about? I think you are more of a diva than her, Coco!¡± Coco, usually sharp¨Ctongued and confident, was stunned into silence, her eyes going red from the scolding. ¡°She¡¯s just a designer,¡± she tried to argue. ¡°Is it really that serious?¡°. She and Howard had some personal rapport outside of work. So, she didn¡¯t think that he would embarrass her just like this. ¡°It¡¯s not serious.¡± Howard raked a hand through his hair,ughing with barely contained fury. ¡°The higher¨Cups are paying close attention to her. Do you honestly believe that Heberly defended some nobody online just for the thrill of it? If you really pushed her too far today, forget about your job. Both of us would be fired!! That finally got through to her. If the executives were involved, it could only mean that it was someone from the Fletcher family. Coco¡¯s knees almost gave out. ¡°I¡¯ll go apologize! Howard looked at her withplete disappointment. He quickly scanned through the building¡¯s surveince footage and spotted Veronica heading toward the lobby. He broke into a sprint to catch her, only to see Her looking absolutely devastated. The sight nearly scared him half to death. Kate jumped at the sound of his voice and looked up, her eyes wide. It was Heberly¡¯s director, Howard! As she was leaving Heberly¡¯s headquarters, she saw Howard and the other branch executives assembled for a presentation. So, his presence there surprised her. She wondered if it was because he had caught wind of Veronica¡¯s bad behavior and rushed over to end the deal. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Her face lit up with smug satisfaction. ¡°Veronica, what on earth did you do to get Mr. Fisk this mad? Look, he looks absolutely livid.¡± Veronica turned her head and saw that it was indeed the case. She wondered if Coco had said something. Her gaze turned sharp, losing its usual warmth. When Howard heard what Kate just said, his already furious expression turned even darker. The present look on his face was due to the running he had done to chase Veronica down, not because he was angry. Seeing how Howard¡¯s expression grew increasingly darker, Kate became more gleeful. ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, Mr. Fisk. She doesn¡¯t really get how the world works. If Heberly ns to terminate her contract, I¡¯ll personally exin it to thepany¡¯s headquarters.¡± Howard took a deep breath and tried to keep hisposure, but her words made it impossible. He warned, ¡°Ms. Dawson, shut your mouth.¡± Chapter 75 Dangerous 76 Chapter 76 William was so furious that he nearly spat blood. Once he finished watching the footage, a wave of dread washed over him. He had to admit, Veronica was too benevolent, She had actually stayed and finished the interview. The moment Ashton wrapped up the second meeting, William immediately reported the entire situation to him. As expected, before he had even finished, that man who already looked like a grim reaper went straight to looking like the king of Hell. ¡°Firing her would be letting her off easy. If she enjoys stirring up trouble so much, transfer her to the sales department.¡± With just a few quiet words, Ashton could destroy someone without leaving them even a shred of dignity. Fletcher Group¡¯s sale department was infamous for its arduous and torturous workce environment. Everyone there worked until they dropped. The entire management team was master maniptors, peddling false hopes and goals no one could ever achieve. They ran their team like a pack of overworked dogs. As miserable as they were, no one could bring themselves to leave. A popr saying circted outside. If someone was tired of living, they should just join Fletcher Group¡¯s sales department. Then they¡¯d understand what it truly meant to wish for death. William said a silent prayer for that venomous woman. ¡°Rest in peace,¡± he thought. By the time Veronica left Heberly, the sky was already dark. She had politely turned down Howard¡¯s dinner invitation. On her way back to the apartment, she passed a supermarket and pulled over to grab some fresh groceries. As she walked toward the entrance, she checked her phone. A message from ¡°Mr. Bulletproof¡± caught her off guard. Theirst conversation had ended when he gave her the scar cream, and they had not spoken since. Veronica touched the corner of her eye. Vernon¡¯s cream had worked surprisingly well. She had not expected much, but in just a few days, the scar had faded significantly. The message Ashton sent was a full 60¨Csecond audio clip. She blinked in surprise. For a man who talked less than a block of ice, this was practically 7 considered a speech. Curious, she tapped the y button. A soft childish voice chirped from the speaker. ¡°Hi! Hi! Ms. Pretty, are you there? Ms. Pretty, it¡¯s me, Wanda! I¡¯m using Uncle Ashton¡¯s phone to message you! Do you remember me? Uncle Ashton said that you live across from Grandpa now. Can Ie to y? I really miss your yummy soup. It was so good! Ms. Pretty, reply when you see this, okay?¡± Veronica could not help smiling. It was the young girl from the hospital¨CAshton¡¯s niece. She should have known. After all, there was no way that Ashton would ever send a voice message, let alone a long one. Before she could reply, the chat lit up again. The ck, minimalist profile picture sent a tearful emoji. Veronica¡¯s gaze softened, and she sent back a kissing emoji. Considering Wanda probably didn¡¯t know how to read yet, Veronica held down the record button to send a voice reply: ¡°Of course I remember you, Wanda. I¡¯m actually heading to the supermarket right now. If there¡¯s anything you want to eat tonight, just let me know.¡± She lifted her finger and sent the message. Almost immediately, another sticker came through. It was another kissing emoji. Veronica let out a softugh. Then came a new voice message. The moment she yed it, a deep male voice driftedzily into her ears. ¡°Anything¡¯s fine. Need a hand? I¡¯d be happy to help.¡± She immediately stopped it, wondering why he had been the one to reply this time. His voice was like a vintage vinyl spinning under the dark sky. It sounded smooth, rich, and low. The way he dragged out his words soundedzy on the surface, but it made her heart race. She¡¯d never admitted it to anyone, but she had a serious weakness for voices. And Ashton¡¯s just happened to be the kind that made her ears burn. There was no way she could listen to that twice. Dangerous 77 Ashton¡¯s voice message came right after that kissing emoji. At first nce, it looked as if it was he who had sent both of them. The very thought of it startled Veronica, though she quickly dismissed it. There was no way Ashton would ever do that. She reminded herself not to start imagining things again, as she had done six years ago. She¡¯d never repeat that mistake again! It was most likely that Wanda had replied to her message, and Ashton had snatched the phone from her. ¡°Uncle Ashton! Did Ms. Pretty reply? Let me see your phone!¡± Wanda danced around Ashton on her tiptoes, stretching her arms toward his phone. Ashton dodged her grab andzily nced at the screen. ¡°She replied. She said you should just get lost.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying! Ms. Pretty would never say that!¡± Wanda¡¯s eyes went wide. Ashton found his niece amusing. He asked, ¡°And how can you be so sure?¡± With a proud little grin, Wanda shed her crooked baby teeth. ¡°I may be young, but I¡¯m not dumb! Ms. Pretty likes me. An old man like you who nobody likes just wouldn¡¯t get it!¡± Ashton was bbergasted. He shot a dark nce at William, who was pretending to be very busy beside him. Ashton questioned, ¡°What kind of ridiculous shows have you been letting her watch?¡± William gave an awkward littleugh and replied ¡°If I said ¡®Sheepo Sheep¡®, would you believe me?¡± Wanda called him out on the spot. ¡°Mr. Dell, you¡¯re lying! It was ¡®Oh! Marry Me Darling!¡°¡± ¡°William Dell! Are you tired of living?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Fletcher. I swear I¡¯m sorry! Sorry!¡± Veronica had just returned from the supermarket with groceries. As she approached the apartment building, a blur of purple came running toward her. ¡°Ms. Pretty!¡± Wanda shouted excitedly. Veronica set down her bags and caught the small figure as she leaped into her arms. ¡°It¡¯s you, Chapter 77 Wanda.¡± ¡°Yeah! I knew that I¡¯d run into you if I waited downstairs!¡± Wanda snuggled in, her twin pigtails bouncing with joy as she took in Veronica¡¯s lovely scent. Veronica let her cling to her and smiled. ¡°What a clever girl. I bought chicken. I¡¯ll make chicken soup for you tonight.¡± ¡°Yay! That¡¯s amazing! I get to eat Ms. Pretty¡¯s cooking again!¡± Wanda cheered. Her joy was infectious. Veronica felt her spirits rise, too. She held the girl¡¯s hand as they walked toward the apartment, chatting and catching up. But just as they stepped onto the steps, a sharp voice rang out behind them. ¡°Mom!¡± Miriam came charging over with her little backpack, her face full of fury. When Veronica turned around, Miriam¡¯s small fists clenched even tighter. ¡°Mom! Why are you here? Why are you holding her hand? You wouldn¡¯te home to take care of me. Was it because of her? Is she your illegitimate daughter?¡± Veronica had felt pleasantly surprised by Miriam¡¯s sudden appearance at first, but as those words tumbled out, her expression gradually turned cold. She asked, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ? Miriam froze for a moment, halting her angry outburst. She bit her lip, eyes fixed on Veronica and Wanda¡¯s sped hands, doing her best to act like it didn¡¯t bother her. So what if Veronica were her mother? She did not need her. She had Eleanor, and that was enough. Then Miriam hesitated, suddenly wondering if Veronica assumed she had followed her here on purpose. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t tter yourself,¡± she said scornfully. ¡°I didn¡¯te here to see you. Ms. Turner lives here. I chose to move in with her.¡± Hearing her daughter¡¯s attempt to exin, Veronica found it amusing. No matter where she went, it seemed that they always managed to find a way to haunt her. Still, she thought that she was already well past her year of misfortune. Chapter 78 Dangerous 78 Chapter 78 ¡°Oh, then you¡¯d better hurry back to her. Don¡¯t let Ms. Turner worry,¡± Veronica said. ¡°As if I need you to tell me that. I was just about to leave!¡± Miriam replied dismissively. However, her eyes remained locked on the young girl holding Veronica¡¯s hand. Suddenly, Wanda clutched her ankle and let out a soft groan. She leaned into Veronica, giving thetter a pitiful look. ¡°Ms. Pretty, my foot hurts.¡± ¡°What happened, Wanda? Is it a cramp? Why did it hurt all of a sudden?¡± Veronica¡¯s tone shifted from calm to anxious in an instant. She immediately scooped Wanda into her arms with great care, as if she were afraid of hurting her in the slightest. Watching that, Miriam felt a sharp sting behind her eyes. It felt like sand had gotten in them. It had been a long time since Veronica had held her like that. Miriam questioned why that stupid little brat got to steal her away. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Ms. Pretty. I just can¡¯t walk anymore. Can you carry me for a while?¡± Wanda nestled she against Veronica¡¯s shoulder, acting all sweet and cutesy. Then, over Veronica¡¯s shoulder, shot Miriam a smug look. ¡°Of course,¡± Veronica said gently, not the least bit suspicious. She didn¡¯t scold the child for being overly dramatic. Wanda beamed and rubbed her cheek against Veronica¡¯s neck before kissing her softly. ¡°Ms Pretty, you are so nice to me.¡± Miriam could not take it anymore. She stormed up to Veronica and pointed at the girl. ¡°Mom, she¡¯s faking it! Can¡¯t you tell?¡± Veronica nced up and said tly, ¡°Yes, I can tell. And?¡± That was not the response Miriam had expected. A strange ache welled up inside her. ¡°She¡¯s full of tricks. You should stay far away from her!¡± As she spoke, she reached out to yank Wanda down. Veronica stood on a step, holding Wanda in her arms and wearing heels. The sudden pull threw her off bnce, and she nearly fell backward with the child in her arms. At the critical moment, a firm hand caught her by the waist and steadied her just in time. Veronica¡¯s heart pounded. When she turned her head, she saw Ashton. He had shown up without her noticing. Flustered, she hastily transferred Wanda into his arms. Then, she turned back around, her voice sharp with anger. ¡°M¨ªriam, you keep calling me your mom, but have you ever actually treated me like one? Do you want to put me back in the hospital again? Last time, you made me fall and hit my head so hard that I lost my memory. What are you trying to do this time? Kill me?¡± Her wordsnded hard. Miriam suddenly felt a jolt of fear when she realized that she had almost killed Veronica. Still, if Veronica hadn¡¯t been holding that annoying girl, she wouldn¡¯t have done that! Furious and scared, Miriam shot Wanda a hateful look and ran off crying without even apologizing. She loathed Veronica and believed that she had to convince Heath to divorce her. She felt that only Eleanor was fit to be her mother! Veronica watched Miriam run off into an apartmentplex across the street. She could guess that it was the one Heath had bought for Eleanor An uneasy feeling stirred in her chest, clouding the peace she had just started to rebuild. Snapping back to reality, she turned and apologized to the uncle¨Cniece duo. ¡°I haven¡¯t been strict enough with her. But she¡¯ll be living with her father from now on, so something like this likely won¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting divorced?¡± Ashton caught on to that key detail. ¡°Yes. We are separated now. Once the time is up, I¡¯ll file for a divorce.¡± Ashton masked the flicker of delight in his eyes and cleared his throat. ¡°I know an excellent divorcewyer, Ms. Dolton. If you need someone, I can introduce you to him. His win rate is 100%¡± His offer tempted Veronica. After all, awyer with a 100% win rate had to be extraordinary. Still, she wondered if Ashton was single and how he knew a divorcewyer. Could it be that he once had a secret wife? A hidden marriage no one knew? ? Dangerous 79 Chapter 79 Veronica¡¯s thoughts began to drift. She found herself specting on all kinds of possibilities regarding Ashton¡¯s marital history. He narrowed his pale grey eyes, quickly catching on. ¡°Ms. Dolton, you¡¯re not thinking that I have been married, are you?¡± ¡°Ah! Of course not.¡± Veronica¡¯s expression flickered with panic. She hesitated, then asked, But then again, you¡¯re quite the catch, Mr. Fletcher. Surely you¡¯ve been in at least one serious rtionship before?¡± ¡°No, Ms. Pretty! I¡¯ve watched Uncle Ashton stay single my whole life! He has never been married!¡± Wanda was perched on Ashton¡¯s shoulder, anxiously yelling. Ashton, on the other hand, looked extremely pleased by Veronica¡¯spliment. Veronica grew uncertain again, wondering about Wanda¡¯s age. Children rarely knew much about adult matters. Ashton had not directly denied it either, which probably meant that he had kept it from his family. Perhaps the couple simply preferred a quiet life after marriage, wanting to avoid outside attention. Once she thought it through that way, everything made sense. She decided that she would need to keep her distance from him from now on. Once she earned enough for the surgery, they would be even. After all, it would be hard for his partner not to overthink things if she found out he¡¯d taken a knife for another woman. As a woman herself, Veronica understood those feelings very well. Her smile faded slightly as she took a step back and picked up the bag of groceries. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Fletcher. If I need anything, I¡¯ll let you know.¡± Ashton immediately noticed the shift in her attitude. He had no idea what had just happened. Had he been too forward and scared her off? Wanda looked at Veronica longingly, drooling. ¡°Ms. Pretty, chicken soup. Chicken soup!¡± ¡°When I finish cooking tonight, I¡¯ll call you over, alright?¡± Veronica¡¯s voice turned soft when she spoke to Wanda. ¡°What about me?¡± Ashton drawled. ¡°If you want some, I¡¯ll pack a portion for Wanda to take home when she leaves.¡± The moment their eyes met, her tone turned as cold as ice. Ashton stared at her, nearlyughing from frustration. Not only did he have to make the first move, but he was now being offered leftovers. It seemed that he wasn¡¯t worthy. ¡°Got it,¡± he replied coolly, then carried Wanda back into the apartment. The moment he left, Veronica let out a deep breath of relief. She was d she had managed to keep things innocent between them. When Veronica was finished cooking, she stared at her phone for a long while, looking at her chat window with Ashton. She was torn between sending a message or simply knocking on the door and calling Wanda over. Sending.a vague message might lead to unnecessary misunderstandings, but there was a good chance Ashton would still be home if she knocked on the door. She was still weighing her options when Wanda, driven by hunger, came over on her own and knocked on her door. The young girl asked, ¡°Ms. Pretty, is dinner ready? I can already smell it!¡± Veronica beamed at the sound of Wanda¡¯s voice, thinking that the young girl was truly her savior. She rushed to open the door and led Wanda into the living room. ¡°It¡¯s ready. I was just about toe get you,¡± Veronica said as she closed the door. The front door mmed shut with a loud bang. Ashton, who hadgged a few steps behind, ended up catching the door right in his face. He wondered if that was a coincidence. He had seen that little typing bubble on the chat screen for quite a while, but no message ever came. He figured that the soup was probably going cold by that point. Gritting his teeth, Ashton stood there for a moment before turning around and walking away, his expression sour. ¡­ ¡°Wanda, slow down. There¡¯s more in the pot.¡± Veronica gently swept the bangs from Wanda¡¯s eyes. Then, she casually asked, ¡°By the way, is your uncle staying over tonight?¡± Wanda bit down on her spoon as she remembered how her uncle had refused to show her his phone messages earlier that afternoon. Her round eyes darted back and forth. ¡°Ah? I don¡¯t think so.¡± She pulled the spoon from her mouth. ¡°I heard him say he has a meeting at 6:00 pm. Hispany has been crazy busytely with meetings all the time!¡± Act Fast Free Bonus Time is Running Out! im Dangerous 80 Ver¨®nica nced at the clock. It was already 5:30 pm. She figured that Ashton was probably on his way out by now. She thought it was perfect, as it meant she no longer needed to deliver the rest of the chicken soup to him. ¡°How do you know so much? Has your uncle been looking after you these days?¡± Veronica propped her chin in her hand. She had not seen Vernon taking his granddaughter out recently. As far as she remembered, the young girl¡¯s parents were living overseas, so she must have been following Ashton around. The young girl stuffed her cheeks full and mumbled, ¡°He has! He brought me to hispany over the past few days and had me clock in. It was so boring! ¡°But today, I saw a female employee crying and begging Uncle Ashton not to send her to the sales department. He didn¡¯t even look at her and told her to go to a mental hospital if she was sick. I almost diedughing!¡± Veronica inwardly grimaced, thinking that Ashton clearly had very firm boundaries. She hadn¡¯t expected him to be even more savage at work. Fortunately, she had never done anything that crossed the line. ¡°Oh, right!¡± After chewing down a massive mouthful of rice, Wanda eximed, ¡°My school registration went through! I¡¯m going to be living with Great¨CGrandpa from now on, so I can see you every day!¡± Watching her exaggerated expressions, Veronica saw through it all. She said, ¡°Great! If there¡¯s anything you want to eat, you cane over and we¡¯ll cook it together.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best! Great¨CGrandpa only knows how to grow flowers. He¡¯s clueless about everything else, especially cooking! He sucks at that!¡± Despite her age, Wanda had a way with her little quips. Her exaggerated expressions were hriously mismatched with her tiny face, but somehow, that only made her more endearing. ¡°Is that so?¡± Veronica asked. She was not too familiar with Vernon¡¯s cooking. Wanda nodded so hard that it looked like her head might fall off. ¡°Totally! Have you ever heard of strawberry ravioli, soda¨Cmarinated spinach, and caramelized chili peppers?¡± Veronica choked on her own saliva. She thought that it sounded genuinely terrifying. Meanwhile, over at the Fletcher family¡¯s dining table, a full meal was prepared. 73 Strawberry ravioli, soda¨Cmarinated spinach, caramelized chili peppers, and pork chops with mango salsa were proudly served on the table. Ashton fell into silence. This was precisely why he avoideding home for dinner. He didn¡¯t even dare to look directly at the dishes. Instead, he reached for the phone he had just set down. Vernon tapped his spoon against the rim of his bowl. ¡°It¡¯s dinner time! Put the damn phone away!¡± Ashton raised his brow and asked, ¡°Grandpa, as a practitioner of traditional medicine, can you confirm that these dishes are fit for human consumption?¡± The old man mmed his bowl down in front of him. ¡°You said it yourself. I am a practitioner of traditional medicine. Would I poison my grandson? This is a fine and nutritionally bnced meal! You rarelye home, so I even made an extra dish. Don¡¯t waste it!¡± Ashton reluctantly picked up his fork. He regretted not swallowing his pride to knock on Veronica¡¯s door. Wanda had better remember to bring that chicken soup home. Wanda was helping Veronica pour out thest bits of leftover chicken soup when she suddenly sneezed. ¡°What is it? Did you catch a cold?¡± Veronica walked over and felt her forehead. ¡°Leave it there. I¡¯ll clean upter.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine! My nose just felt itchy for a second.¡± Wanda scratched her nose and refused to step aside. ¡°No way, Ms. Pretty. You did the cooking, so I have to wash the dishes. The mother shouldn¡¯t be the only one doing all the work in a family. I¡¯m a big kid now!¡± Veronica froze when she heard that. She thought back to when she had been raising the twins. Neither child had ever offered to help, not even for a moment. Even getting them to clean up their toys had required her to lose her temper first. And when they finally did it, they would grumble the entire time,ining that she had nothing better to do and should clean up for them. ¡°You¡¯re such a good girl, Wanda.¡± Veronica gently ruffled the young girl¡¯s hair. Wanda didn¡¯t flinch away at all. Her cheeks flushed as she beamed, pride evident in her smile. After tidying up, she stayed at Veronica¡¯s apartment a little longer to watch some cartoons. At 7:30 pm, the doorbell rang without warning. Veronica went to answer the door. Ashton was standing outside. His face was pale, and his lips were pressed together into a tight line. Their eyes met, and he stared at her for a long moment before asking, ¡°Where¡¯s my chicken soup?¡± Chapter $1 Dangerous 81 Chapter 81 Veronica blinked in surprise. She started to ask, ¡°Did you not¡­¡± Mid¨Csentence, a realization hit her. Ashton never went back to the office. She inwardly cursed. The chicken soup was long gone. Not even a drop was left. Seeing her falter, Ashton arched a brow. ¡°I waited for your soup, you know. In the meantime, I had the pleasure of sampling Grandpa¡¯stest culinary invention. Didn¡¯t you- ?? ¡°Ah?¡± Veronica quickly feigned ignorance and cut him off, attempting to dodge the awkward topic. Then, like an idiot, she asked, ¡°What dish was it?¡± Ashton¡¯s smile turned frosty. ¡°Pork chops with mango salsa.¡± Noticing her hesitant expression, he had a sinking feeling that the soup that night would end up just as cold as his heart. Veronica gave a sheepish smile and tried to find a way to cover up her blunder. She cleared her throat before saying, ¡°Vernon really is quite the innovator¡­¡± No wonder Ashton¡¯s face looked like he had been poisoned when she opened the door earlier. That was the reason. She wondered if that dish was even safe to consume. She pictured Ashton sitting at a table full of strange dishes, wearing that same expression. Despite herself, she found it a little funny, though it was not very kind to do so. She tried her best not tough and urged herself to make amends. ¡°Uncle Ashton, what brings you here?¡± Wanda came running in from the living room, asking the obvious. Ashton looked at her and retorted, ¡°What do you think?¡± Her eyes darted around yfully as she said, ¡°Oh no, you didn¡¯t go to the office? I thought you were super busy today. We finished the soup ages ago. I even washed the pot myself!¡± That tone of hers could drive anyone up the wall. As expected, Ashton¡¯s face darkened like the bottom of a burnt pan. He couldn¡¯t believe her audacity. Veronica noticed the deepening gloom in his eyes and quickly mped a hand over Wanda¡¯s mouth before thetter could worsen things any further. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Mr. Fletcher. I thought you had gone to the office, so I didn¡¯t leave anything for you,¡± she said, bracing herself. ¡°It¡¯s fine. A feast from Grandpa once in a while wouldn¡¯t kill me. My stomach troubles should stay put for now.¡± Ashton gave her a faint smile, though storm clouds churned in his pale gray eyes. ¡°It¡¯s kind of you to exin, though I wasn¡¯t here for just a bowl of soup. I was simply reminded of our time at the hospital. I missed your cooking.¡± Wanda¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Her picky uncle, who never missed a meal, was talking as if no one had ever fed him. And when did he start having stomach troubles? Even if he did, was Vernon not more than capable of curing it? Her brain whirred as she arrived at a bold conclusion. Ashton was lying! Unfortunately, Veronica still had her hand over Wanda¡¯s mouth to keep her from blurting anything out. Thus, she couldn¡¯t get a single word out. Veronica didn¡¯t notice the change in the girl¡¯s expression. Ashton¡¯s nonchntment only deepened her guilt. He had saved her life, after all. So, how could she act so distant out of fear of gossip, despite what he had done for her? There had to be a better way to handle this. She remembered her visit to the hospital. Ashton had beenpletely alone. He had no family or friends¨Cno one to visit him. And now, with that disaster of a meal from Vernon¡­ Veronica felt a tight knot forming in her chest. She couldn¡¯t believe what she had done. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Fletcher. My cooking is nothing special, but if you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d be happy to prepare dinner for you personally tomorrow. If you¡¯re busy, your assistant cane by and pick it up.¡± ¡°Thank you, Ms. Dolton.¡± Ashton pretended to hesitate, but gave a slight nod in the end. With one smooth motion, he plucked Wanda right out of Veronica¡¯s arm. Dangerous 82 Chapter 82 Wanda had seen the whole thing unfold. As soon as the door closed behind them, she raised her voice and shouted, ¡°Uncle Ashton, that was sneaky!¡± ¡°Was it?¡± Ashton¡¯s eyes were dark and unreadable, his lips curving as he caught hold of her newly braided hair. ¡°We have a few things to settle, Wanda. Since when was I going to the office for a meeting?¡± Wanda immediately sensed danger. She took off running and shouted, ¡°Great¨CGrandpa, help me!¡± A door away, the sounds of reprimands were blocked offpletely. Veronica finally had a chance to check her phone. After replying to some work messages, a new follower request came in. It was from a woman using a photo of a stubby¨Clegged Munchkin cat as her profile picture. Veronica stared at the picture for a while, thinking that it looked familiar. She switched over to her Twitter ount and pulled up Jocelyn¡¯s profile. As expected, the Munchkin cat was the same kitten Jocelyn had posted before. Veronica guessed that thetter was still reaching out about the fashion consultant role. She epted the request and immediately received a waving emoji from Jocelyn. ¡°Ms. Tillman?¡± Veronica asked. ¡°Ms. Dolton, you¡¯re so sharp!¡± Jocelyn replied with a photo of a kitten lying on its back. Veronica could not help butugh. She never would have expected someone as aloof as Jocelyn to have such a goofy online presence. ¡°I know that you must be incredibly busy right now, and Ipletely understand if you really can¡¯t spare the time. I only invited you to be my consultant because I truly value your opinion in helping me choose my outfits. We have a separate styling and wardrobe team already in ce, so please do not feel pressured.¡± Since Jocelyn had put it that way, Veronica could no longer find a reason to turn her down. The Arclight Awards ceremony was happening that weekend. It was only three days away. Veronica agreed to meet Jocelyn the next day to go over her outfits, which would also mark the end of her brief stint as Jocelyn¡¯s fashion consultant. It would also close the chapter on a favor that neither of them had ever clearly defined. The next day, Veronica submitted the final sample draft of the spring¨Csummer neo¨CCinderone collection. That afternoon, Courtney suddenly called for an emergency meeting. Her expression was grave as she said, ¡°Graham Group might be pulling out. We¡¯ll have to dy our offline rollout for now.¡± ¡°What?¡± Veronica frowned. Graham Group had been their major investor for theunch of the new neo¨CCinderone themed stores. If thepany backed out now, it would throw a wrench into production and everything that came after. ¡°Their manager mentioned that the boss has recently taken a liking to Windswept Atelier¡¯s designs. The pricing is fair, and with their team of seasoned designers, they offer more stability,¡± Courtney said, massaging her temples ¡°What? That¡¯s outrageous. They¡¯re pletely going back on their word.¡± ¡°Windswept Atelier has already stolen three of our contracts this year. They¡¯re pushing things too far!¡± The room was instantly filled with frustrated voices. Veronica pressed her lips together, quietly piecing things together. Once the meeting ended, she stayed behind with Courtney. ¡°Courtney, is it because of me?¡± Veronica¡¯s situation had been widely reported on the intetely. The buzz was far from ttering. When investors looked at a brand, reputation was always part of their consideration. Courtney briefly paused, understanding her underlying question. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Nothing¡¯s set in stone yet. I¡¯m heading over myself to talk things through.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you,¡± Veronica said, grabbing her coat. This time, Courtney did not stop her. She knew Veronica well. If she did not let thetter tag along now, she would go on her ownter. If that happened, with no one there to watch her back, she might end up seriously outmatched. Graham Group¡¯s CEO, Keith Graham, preferred peace and quiet. Thepany¡¯s office building was located on the far edge of the western suburbs, where there was less crowd and traffic. After nearly two hours ofmuting, neither Courtney nor Veronica got to see Keith. ¡°Mr. Graham went out to attend a ribbon¨Ccutting ceremony in Shalton,¡± the front desk AVE WENN receptionist said. She recognized Courtney as the head of Novaro and spoke respectfully, showing no signs of hostility. She did, however, sneak a few curious nces at veronica. ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate,¡± Courtney said, her smile polite. ¡°Please let him know we came by.¡± Dangerous 83 As soon as Courtney and Veronica left, the front desk receptionist immediately dialed their internal line. ¡°Notify Mr. Graham that the people from Novara are gone.¡® That day marked the official signing of the contract between Windswept Atelier and Graham Group. As a precaution, the front, desk had been instructed to tell anyone who asked that Keith was in Shalton for a ribbon¨Ccutting ceremony. If anyone from Novaro showed up, they were to be stalled no matter what. After the call, the front desk receptionist stared at the retreating figures of the two women. She shook her head inwardly. She wished them all the best, especially after they¡¯d tried to climb the ranks in this industry by offending someone like Eleanor¨Ca walking treasure trove of fashion connections. In the parking lot, Courtney and Veronica had not yet driven off. ¡°That car up front is the one Mr. Graham always drives. If he¡¯s genuinely not at the office, the car should be at home or the airport,¡± Courtney exined as she held the steering wheel. She was responding to Veronica¡¯s confused look. ¡°It looks like our timing was spot on. Today is probably the day they¡¯re signing with Windswept Atelier.¡± Courtney had spent years in the industry, and experience had sharpened her instincts. She could size up a situation in a matter of seconds. She thought over what had happened and pieced things together with ease. Catching the disappointed look on Veronica¡¯s face, she offered a few words offort. ¡°It¡¯s alright. There are always more solutions than problems. Pulling in a few investors isn¡¯t that big of a deal.¡± Veronica had only just returned. She could not afford to let her lose confidence so soon. ¡°Courtney,¡± Veronica said, pulling gently at her arm. ¡°This might not be a dead end yet. I went to Heberly yesterday, and their director told me that their headquarters ns to expand into fashion in the next quarter. They¡¯ll be looking for outside coborators. Why don¡¯t we take a gamble on this?¡± She didn¡¯t have the chance to bring it up before Graham Group¡¯s sudden betrayal, but maybe fate had stepped in after all. Courtney¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Let¡¯s do it!¡± 2/3 10 The two of them did not linger in front of the cold and deserted Graham Group any longer. ¡°It¡¯s in the middle of nowhere. As if anyone would want to hang around here,¡± Courtney muttered while reversing out of the parking lot. Veronica held back augh. On the drive back, the two chatted idly. Courtney mentioned that there was a well¨Cknown shrine tucked away in the nearby mountains, said to be strongly blessed by the mountain spirits. That instantly brought a face to Veronica¡¯s mind¡ªAshton, the one who always seemed to shoulder the me for her. She asked, ¡°Could you drop me off there? I want to pray for something.¡± Courtney asked instinctively, ¡°For the twins?¡± Veronica shook her head. ¡°No. Back when I was in the hospital, someone took a knife for me. I want to pray for his safety.¡± Courtney stared at her in shock. ¡°Who was it? What happened?¡± Veronica briefly told her the whole story. ¡°What a worthless bastard Heath is! One day, someone ought to break that fucker¡¯s legs!¡± Courtney snapped, unable to keep herself from cursing. Veronica adjusted her seatbelt, which had begun to feel a little too tight. Now, she could talk about it without flinching. The pain no longer cut her deep. She even found herself hoping that those two would stay shackled to each other forever. The sooner they did that, the sooner she could finalize the divorce and put the whole mess behind her. Courtney dropped Veronica off at the shrine. Thetter knew that Courtney had nster with family, so she told her not to wait. She entered the shrine alone and prayed for a lucky charm. The triangr charm was made from a fine navy linen, with a soft scent clinging to its threads. It was more delicately made than she had expected, and she hoped that Ashton would ept it. Veronica stepped out of the shrine. The west exit was just beyond the door. Few visitors took that path, so it was quieter. She descended the mountain, preferring the solitude as she went. Just as she reached thest step, she almost collided with three people who were heading up. The trio seemed to spot Veronica seconds before he had noticed them. They stopped in their tracks. Heath and Eleanor stood on either side of Miriam, each holding the girl¡¯s hands. All three were dressed in white. At first nce, they appeared to be a perfect family. Veronica instantly averted her gaze, pretending not to know them. Dangerous 84 ¡°Mom, can you stop secretly prying into our schedules?¡± Miriam threw her arms around Eleanor and red at Veronica with open hostility. After fleeing back to the apartment yesterday, she had been terrified. She told Eleanor everything about her unexpected run¨Cin with Veronica. Eleanorforted her at first, then casually mentioned that ever since she moved into the apartment, she had never once seen Veronica there. Miriam instantly understood the implication that Veronica must have found out they had moved here, and then deliberately moved into the same area! She knew it. There was no way Veronica would willingly let go of her and Heath. Even if Veronica had lost her memory, she was still that shameful woman who snuck around in the shadows Heath¡¯s gaze on Veronica shifted subtly at his daughter¡¯s words. He and Eleanor had nned their trip to the shrine a whole week ago. Anyone could have found that out with a bit of digging. On top of that, they had deliberately chosen to enter through the west gate, an entrance few ever used. There was no way that their encounter with Veronica could have been a coincidence. ¡°If you wanted to see me and Miriam, there was no need to do this much.¡± Veronica said nothing and headed straight down the steps. One more word from that father- daughter duo, and she might lose the chicken soup she had for dinner yesterday. Just as she passed the three of them, someone grabbed her wrist. ¡°Answer me, Veronica.¡± Heath¡¯s voice wasced with irritation. Veronica looked down at the hand gripping hers. A trace of disgust flickered through her expression. Heath thought he was seeing things. She was disgusted with him? He dismissed the thought just as quickly. If Veronica truly felt that way, she would have yanked her hand away immediately. But before she could make a move, he let go first. Veronica looked up, her eyes cold as they traveled from his hand to his face. ¡°So, when are we getting a divorce?¡± Heath stared at her, his expressionplicated. After she left that day, he checked the security footage. Not only had he confirmed that Eleanor had fallen entirely on her own, but he had also seen Veronica leave with their marriage certificate in hand. For the first time, it struck him how memory loss could affect a person¡¯s feelings. There was 1 Chantel 84 ????????????????? no way they could divorce while she was in such an irrational state. He was the only one in this family still capable of thinking clearly. Keeping his tone steady, he asked, ¡°Why are you in such a rush to divorce?¡± Veronica let out a coldugh. ¡°Because just the thought of being married to someone like you, with kids no less, is enough to ruin my appetite and give me sleepless nights, I was so disturbed that I had to go to the shrine to beg for a way out.¡± Two could y that game. As expected, Heath¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Do you even hear yourself right now?¡± Eleanor quickly stepped in to smooth things over. ¡°Veronica, don¡¯t joke like that with Heath. You even wished a charm for him. Heath, don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± Following her gaze, Heath noticed the small blue charm in Veronica¡¯s right hand. It was precisely the kind he liked. However, her words had crossed the line that day displeasing him. ¡°Don¡¯t do meaningless things like this again. I don¡¯t need them,¡± he said. For the longest time, Heath had thought Veronica had changed a lot since college. But now, it seemed that same old stubborn streak had never left her. She clearly kept an eye on his movements and cared about his health, yet she still brought up divorce just to provoke him. It seemed that she wanted his attention. Heath reached out his hand, intending to take the charm from her. He nned to give Veronica a way out. However, Veronica ignored his hand and stuffed the charm back into her pocket. ¡°Meaningless to you? Would it only be meaningful if you did it with your sweet little girlfriend here? ¡°Just hurry up and divorce me already. Stop being disgusting.¡± Act Fast: Free Bonus Time is Running Out! Dangerous 85 Chapter 85 Heath¡¯s hand froze in midair. His usuallyposed and handsome face twisted with visible fury at her blunt jab. Veronica hurried away, worried that the charm she had just wished for would get tainted by their negative vibes. ¡°How dare she!¡± Heath exploded, Eleanor quickly stepped in to soothe him, just like how she always had. ¡°Heath, Veronica¡¯s still sick. She probably doesn¡¯t even realize what she said. Once she¡¯s feeling better, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll apologize.¡± A sharp gleam shed through Heath¡¯s dark eyes as he stared at the distant silhouette. ¡°She hasn¡¯t lost her memory; she¡¯s lost her mind She expressed her true feelings today.¡± Miriam shrank closer to Eleanor, too scared to say another word. This was the first time she had ever seen Heath this enraged by Veronica. A hint of confusion flickered in her eyes. Why did Veronica leave? Did she really mean what she said about divorcing Heath? ¡°Alright, Heath. Calm down.¡± Eleanor gently wrapped her arm around his. Her voice was soft, but tinged with a trace of sadness. ¡°You promised toe here with me today, but the moment Veronica showed up, it was like I didn¡¯t even exist. You haven¡¯t forgotten, have you? I¡¯m really looking forward to the Arclight Awards this year.¡± Heath¡¯s expression softened as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, Eleanor. Let¡¯s head over. There¡¯s no need to pay any attention to that woman.¡± He had always maintained Veronica¡¯s dignity in front of their child, but now, this showed just how far she had pushed him. Eleanor was secretly thrilled. Veronica may have thought that she was clever, but she was actually outsmarting herself. She¡¯d better keep pulling these outdated tricks to y hard to get. Sooner orter, Heath will be Eleanor¡¯s! After leaving the shrine, Veronica headed straight to Jocelyn¡¯s studio. Three gowns were prepared for both Jocelyn¡¯s red¨Ccarpet and award ceremony appearances, each with apletely different theme¡ªred, ck, and white. The ck dress was a limited edition piece sponsored by a luxurybel. However, Jocelyn did not like the color and had declined it. The red dress was a recentmission. Heavy with embroidery, it was still in the process of being made. With such a tight schedule, there was no guarantee it would be ready before their uing move. That left the final choice¨Ca white gown embellished with feathered tassels. The design was fresh and eye¨Ccatching. Jocelyn immediately took a liking to it. The team had brought it over in person and promised that the sample dress was alreadyplete. So, she finalized her decision on the spot. The mock¨Cup had arrived at the studio for a fitting that day. Veronica hade to help evaluate and offer adjustments if needed. When she arrived at the studio; Harry was already waiting at the entrance. He smiled and said, ¡°Jocelyn¡¯s trying on makeup looks right now. She¡¯s been talking about you these past few days. She¡¯ll be pleased that you came.¡± Veronica was ttered, but she dared not take thepliment too seriously. ¡°I¡¯ve been looking forward to this coboration too.¡± She returned his warmth with a gracious smile. ¡°By the way, which brand did Ms. Tillman end up going with?¡± ¡°Windswept Atelier,¡± Harry replied. Veronica paused mid¨Cstep. The industry was small, especially when it came to top¨Ctier brands. It was unlikely that they shared the same name. After the incident with Graham Group, Veronica had deliberately looked into Windswept Atelier¡¯s background. Compared to Novaro, thepany had been active in the scene for years. While its designers were not widely famous, it consistently produced a few standout pieces each year. What really gave the brand its reputation was its young, prodigious founder, Theodore Baker. His designs had won nearly every major international award, but a few years ago, he had abruptly stepped away from the spotlight. Only recently had there been whispers of his intentions to return. Windswept Atelier had long sinceunched its own independentbel, and with the support of several celebrity connections, its future prospects were promising. Dangerous 86 Veronica didn¡¯tment on Jocelyn¡¯s decision. Instead, she said, ¡°Take me to have a look at the dresses.¡± Inside the dressing room, two gowns had already been prepped. Both were steamed and hung neatly on the disy rack. One of them featured feathered tassels that traced the hem and neckline of the gown, giving the entire piece an ethereal charm. It perfectly suited Jocelyn¡¯s style. Veronica slipped on a pair of gloves and leaned in to examine the inner construction and finer design details. ¡°The organza fabric is light and sheer, but not breathable. What saves it is how well the overall design pulls together. ¡°As for the gown for the red carpet, those shes of light from the press are going to be brutal. I think we should add ayer ofce here at the waist to prevent any wardrobe malfunctions.¡± Veronica offered her suggestions while the assistant sent by Harry took detailed notes. Suddenly, her hand paused. The assistant noticed the shift and asked, ¡°What is it, Ms. Dolton?¡± Veronica reached into the lining at the back of the waist and pulled out a silver needle. It was about the length of a fingertip. The assistant drew in a sharp breath. That spot was so well hidden that it would have been nearly impossible to notice without a thorough inspection. If Jocelyn had put on the dresses before discovering them, the consequences could have been disastrous. ¡°There is also a safety pin in there. I can¡¯t touch it. If it breaks, the entire dress might fall apart,¡± Veronica said, turning to the assistant, who stood frozen in shock. ¡°Call them over.¡± 11 ¡°This is outrageous! These two gowns cost a million dors, and this is the kind of shoddy work they deliver? What are they nning?¡± Harry stood with his hands on his hips, fuming. ¡°Have you managed to get in touch with anyone from Windswept Atelier?¡± Jocelyn had just wrapped up her makeup trial and was already feeling drained. Thest thing she needed was this. At the mention of Windswept Atelier, Harry bristled. ¡°They have the nerve to act high and mighty. The moment they found out, they had no video footage of what happened, and they immediately imed that their boss himself had handcrafted the gown. ¡°They insisted that there was absolutely no way such a w could have urred. They even implied that we might be trying to avoid paying! Jocelyn gave a bitterugh and said, ¡°It looks like they have no intention of taking responsibility.¡± Veronica stood beside her, frowning. ¡°When are they sending someone to fix it?¡± ¡°The earliest would be tomorrow. Their team doesn¡¯t work on weekends. They said that it would have to wait until next week for it to be done.¡± Harry was furious. ¡°By then, everything would be toote! They are doing this on purpose!¡± Veronica could not make sense of it. Windswept Atelier had a decent reputation in the industry. So, how could they allow such a careless mistake to slip through and damage their name like that? And judging by what Harry said, thepany was refusing to acknowledge the issue at all. If it truly cared about its client, the bare minimum would be to send someone over to examine the piece and figure out where things went wrong. Even if their staff could not exin it, a sewing needle hidden in the lining was dangerous enough to warrant police involvement. That would have been the fastest way to clear up any misunderstandings. Instead, thepany stalled and dodged responsibility, pretending to offer help while actually doing nothing. It was all too suspicious. Jocelyn calmed Harry, who was on the verge of exploding. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Windswept Atelier¡¯s boss is a friend of Archie¡¯s. I¡¯ll call him. They won¡¯t refuse to help fix the dress.¡± The moment she said it, something clicked in Veronica¡¯s mind. A friend of Archie¡¯s? Her daze darkened. Jocelyn ced the call, but it rang unanswered. Eventually, it was Harry who stopped her. He said, ¡°Forget it, Jocelyn. Check your Twitter.¡± ¡°#TheodoreBakerReturns¡± ¡°#TheodoreBaker DesignsForEleanor¡± ¡°#TheGoddess&HerFollowers¡± Veronica casually tapped one of the hashtags, and Theodore¡¯stest post popped up. Chapter Attached was a group photo. A handsome young than stood to Eleanor¡¯s left, Archie to her right. Behind her, Heath was caught mid¨Cphone call. Well, the goddess and her loyal mutts were all there. Dangerous 87 Chapter 87 Jocelyn had also seen her boyfriend, Archie, who had just ignored her calls, in the Twitter post. She immediately understood and ended her attempts to reach his phone. Instead, she opened their chat window and sent a message. ¡°If you don¡¯t pick up my call, we¡¯re done.¡± Meanwhile, Archie had been smugly waiting for Jocelyn¡¯s call to time out again. Then, he saw the message. His temper red instantly. He couldn¡¯t believe her audacity. If anyone was ending things, it should be him. He had vowed never to let someone else beat him to it again. Furious, he was the one to call back this time. ¡°Jocelyn Tillman, what is that supposed to mean? You keep using breakups as a threat now. You disappoint me!¡± As always, he was domineering and aggressive, making no effort to lower his voice despite the people around him. Jocelyn seemed used to it. Her voice dropped, sounding pitiful as she said, ¡°Archie, you finally answered.¡± He gave a coldugh and said, ¡°Get to the point. I¡¯m busy, and I do not have time for your childish nonsense!¡± Jocelyn did not waste her words and immediately got to the issue with the gown. ¡°Is Mr. Baker there? I don¡¯t have his number. This gown really matters to me, and I would still like to wear it on the red carpet. I was hoping that it could be fixed quickly.¡± Archie was already growing impatient as he listened to her story. The moment he realized that she was using him to reach Theodore, he nearly lost it. This woman really had guts. He had underestimated her before. Biting back his rage, he snapped, ¡°It¡¯s just a piece of clothing. Do you have to make such a big deal out of it? Theodore isn¡¯t a tailor, and he does not have the time to fix that garbage gown of yours!¡± ¡°Archie, please,¡± Jocelyn pleaded. ¡°Let me speak with him¡­¡± Archie, riled up with amusement now, said mockingly, ¡°Do you think that my connections are for you to use however you like? Unbelievable. It¡¯s just a gown. Wear whatever. You¡¯re my girlfriend. Who are you trying to look good for- He had not even finished his sentence when the call was cut off abruptly. Jocelyn had hung up on him. Archie couldn¡¯t believe that she had the nerve to hang up on him again. He clenched his teeth in fury. From the side, Eleanor smiled and teased, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Who got you all worked up?¡± gown He tried to rein in his anger. ¡°It¡¯s that little girlfriend of mine. She imed that the received from Windswept Atelier was defective, and she demanded Theodore¡¯s contact information. But I refused.¡± At this, Theodore turned to look at him. she The man who always seemed aloof now appeared displeased. ¡°You mean Jocelyn? I personally oversaw the preparation of that gown. Windswept Atelier¡¯s best designers handled it. There¡¯s no way it would have such a disgusting w. Archie, keep your woman in check ¡°As if I need you to tell me that,¡± Archie snarled. ¡°Don¡¯t try to pin this on me. With your half- baked design skills, if not for El back then, you think you¡¯d-¡± ¡°Archie!¡± Eleanor cut him off sharply, shooting him a look of disapproval. ¡°What happened back then is in the past. There is no need to bring it up again.¡± Theodore¡¯s face turned ugly. Hisplexion was pale, and when he was angry, his gaze looked ready to kill. Archie realized that his words had crossed a line, so he tried to calm his mind. Eleanor nced between them, speaking gently, ¡°Theodore¡¯s sess is a blend of talent and luck. Without real skill, he couldn¡¯t have dominated the country¡¯s fashion scene for years or earned the title of a true master. Archie, you should apologize.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah¡­¡± Archie grumbled. Despite his reluctance, he muttered an apology, saying, ¡± Sorry, alright?¡± He med Jocelyn. If it had not been for her call, he would never have had to apologize to this smug brat. Theodore threw him a cold look and scoffed. ¡°I refuse it.¡± ¡°You!¡± ¡°Theodore,¡± Eleanor reached out and tugged at his sleeve. Dangerous 88 Chapter 88 Theodore¡¯s temper cased a little as he said, ¡°Fine I¡¯ll let it go this time, for El¡¯s sake.¡± Deep down, Eleanor¡¯s earlier words had moved him more than he expected. ¡°El, this time, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re wearing the most beautiful gown in the world for the Arclight Awards. You¡¯ll steal the show on that red carpet.¡± Eleanor¡¯s cheeks flushed. A rare flicker of shyness crept into her expression. ¡°Thank you, Theodore. It couldn¡¯t have been easy for you, being on such a tight schedule.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If you¡¯re the one asking, I¡¯d never say no,¡± Theodore replied, his smile warm. Archie could barely stand the sight of them. He cursed under his breath, disgusted. He thought it was pathetic how Theodore was fawning all over her like a lovesick dog. Who was he trying to impress? ¡°Heath¡¯s back,¡± Archie said tly when he noticed Heath putting down his phone. ¡°Heath! I just got back. Why don¡¯t we grab a drink tonight? My treat,¡± Theodore offered casually. Heath shook his head and said, ¡°I can¡¯t. I need to take care of Miriam at home.¡± The three of them exchanged strange looks at his reply. Theodore frowned. ¡°What about that secret wife of yours? Isn¡¯t she home? Why do you need to go back? Is this just an excuse to turn me down?¡± Having only recently returned from abroad, he had not been up to date on Heath¡¯s mess over the past few months. ¡°Veronica? She hit her head and now thinks chasing some so¨Ccalled career is more important -just like you,¡± Heath said darkly. It took Theodore a second to realize that he wasn¡¯t beingpared to someone with brain damage. Heath was merely pointing out that Veronica had gone into design, just as he had. ¡°You never should¡¯ve married her to repay your grandfather¡¯s debt,¡± Theodore muttered, now even more irritated by the woman he had never met. ¡°A woman who can¡¯t even stay home to raise her kid? Absurd. ¡°Heath, so long as you keep your hands out of this, I¡¯ll make sure that she never gets another chance in the industry. She¡¯ll have no choice but to stay home and take care of the kids.¡± Heath was tempted by that offer. The logic was simple. If a caged bird kept trying to fly, one just had to break its wings. Naturally, he had ways to crush Veronica¡¯s future in the industry. However, making a move Chapter himself would look petty. If Theodore was offering to take care of it, then so be it. He nodded. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll leave it to you, then.¡± ¡°Not a problem.¡± From the side, Eleanor quietly studied Heath¡¯s expression, her mind elsewhere. In the end, the group¡¯s gathering for the night never happened. Heath left first, and Archie made up some excuse and left soon after. Theodore dropped Eleanor off at her venue for ast¨Cminute shoot, then returned to his ¡°Mr. Baker! Something¡¯s wrong!¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the panic?¡± he asked, frowning. The head of the design department rushed in, flustered. ¡°We just got word from Ms. Tillman¡¯s team. There¡¯s a problem with the gown. We sent someone to investigate the production process, and it turned out that an intern was careless during the back stitching. They left a needle inside the dress!¡± ¡°What?¡± Theodore instantly stood up, a sharp pulse pounding in his temples. ¡°Who else knows about this? Has Jocelyn¡¯s team said anything to confirm it came from us?¡± ¡°N¨CNo. They didn¡¯t take any footage of the unboxing.¡± ?? That calmed Theodore down somewhat. ¡°Find an excuse and get them to send the gown back. Tell them we¡¯ll try to fix it, but no promises. ¡°Whatever happens, that gown with the issue must never be traced back to us. Understand?¡± Dangerous 89 Chapter 89 ¡°I understand. It¡¯s just¡­¡± The head of the design department shrank back. Theodore snapped, ¡°Spit it out.¡± ¡°They¡¯re demanding a full refund and refuse any repairs. If we don¡¯tply, they say that they¡¯ll take legal action and sue us for fraud.¡± Theodore angrily mmed a hand against the table. ¡°They¡¯ve got some nerve to try and extort me!¡± That very day, the usually quiet Theodore posted a second post on Twitter. It read, ¡°Not working with drama queens, trouble¨Cmakers, or scammers ever again.¡± The inte exploded with chatter. Netizens swarmed in, gossiping furiously. Just who had made Theodore, who was known for his good temper, this angry? LayerCake: ¡°Whoa, isn¡¯t he Eleanor¡¯s loyal fan? It sounds like that crush is over.¡± ElFav: ¡°Nonsense! Our Eleanor is the brand ambassador of Windswept Atelier. No way Theodore would be talking about her! Use your head. They recently worked with Louis Pine and Jocelyn Tillman.¡°. 66Lolz: ¡°Louis is over 70 years old. There¡¯s no way that it¡¯s him, right? El¨Cegant: ¡°Who is it then? I wonder¡­¡± Spection surged online, with an increasing number ofizens directing their attention toward Jocelyn. Still, she had built up a solid reputation in the industry over the years, to her defense. Later that night, Jocelyn also posted on her Twitter ount. and many friends came ¡°You never know how much a needle hurts until it pierces your own skin.¡± Attached was a photo of a silver needle. Theodore recognized it instantly. It was one of the positioning needles he always used in his studio. He inwardly cursed his rotten luck, closed the app and decided to stay silent. ¡°The brand says that it¡¯s toote. That gown had already been lent out to the other ambassador,¡± Harry said, putting down his phone. Jocelyn gave a helpless smile. ¡°If it can¡¯t be helped, then just let it be.¡± If she had to face this problem before the awards, then she would ept it. She continued, ¡°We can just wear a gown from the previous season.¡± ¡°No way! It¡¯s going to be the biggest moment of your life. A top¨Ctier actress walking the red carpet in an outdated dress? What will people think of you? What will they think of thepany?¡± Harry clenched his fist, trying to hold back his frustration. The real culprit still has the nerve to act high and mighty online, talking about not working with them again? They were the ones whom everyone in the industry should cklist! ¡°Alright, Harry. Calm down. Anger¡¯s bad for your body.¡± Jocelyn handed him a ss of water. Her expression was still gentle, but a trace of sorrow lingered in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not the end yet. Heberly is willing to lend a dress, but are you willing to wear it?¡± Veronica, who had been silent this whole time, suddenly spoke up. Everyone turned to her, stunned. ¡°Heberly?¡± That was a brand name that no one had dared to dream of. Heberly had always had exclusive ambassadors and never lent out its gowns. Although Jocelyn had already signed on as thepany¡¯s ambassador for the next term, the partnership had yet to be announced. No one had imagined that the brand would step in to save the day. Even Veronica had not held out much hope. At first, she had just asked Courtney if thepany had any unreleased gowns in stock. However, most of them were unsuitable. It wasn¡¯t until she stumbled upon Howard¡¯s Instagram post that it clicked. Her eyes immediatelynded on a pale blue dress, perfect for Jocelyn.. She figured that it wouldn¡¯t hurt to ask. To her surprise, he agreed without hesitation. Veronica gently patted Jocelyn, who had been holding herself together for hours. She said, The dress needs a few adjustments, but I should be able to handle it myself. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll take a look together. Don¡¯t stress about it. As long as it¡¯s not over yet, there¡¯s still hope.¡± Jocelyn¡¯s eyes turned red. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Dolton. You¡¯ve helped me again.¡± Veronica smiled and said, ¡°As I¡¯ve said, it¡¯s no big deal. If you end up walking the red carpet in a gown I altered, I¡¯d say I¡¯m the one who got lucky.¡± For the outdoor shoot, they ultimately went with the red embroidered floor¨Clength gown- the one they¡¯d picked earlier, but were worried that the schedule might be too tight. Now finished, it was strikingly dramatic and elegant. By the time they left the studio, it was already 10:00 pm. ¡°Veronica, it¡¯ste. Why don¡¯t we grab some sup an intimate gesture. ¡°Veronica, it¡¯ste. Why don¡¯t we grab some supper?¡± Jocelyn looped her arm through hers in an intimate gesture. A Dangerous 90 Chapter 90 After what happened with the dress, Jocelyn had beenpletely won over. When she mentioned going out for a meal, something suddenly shed through Veronica¡¯s mind. Then, the image of Ashton¡¯s somber gray eyes surfaced in her memory. She cursed inwardly. She had promised to cook for him. And now, thanks to the situation earlier, she hadpletely forgotten about it. She remembered the look he gave her the day before, which held a faint trace of disappointment. The guilt came flooding in. She couldn¡¯t believe that it hadpletely slipped her mind. She should have at least notified him in advance. What if he still had not eaten? Veronica quickly said goodbye to Jocelyn, then nervously dialed Ashton¡¯s number. It rang for a long time before anything happened. She nced at the time and grew more anxious. It waste already, so he was probably already in bed! Just before the call was about to hang up, it connected. ¡°Speak.¡± Ashton sounded congested, his mood unreadable. Veronica suddenly felt like a kid caught doing something wrong. No matter how she exined, it was going to sound like an excuse. She hesitated for a while, then finally asked, ¡°Eaten yet?¡± On the other end of the line, Ashton gave a soft, incredulousugh. ¡°Ms. Dolton, do you even know what time it is?¡± Her heart tightened as she said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I got caught up with work today and forgot to let you know. That¡¯s on me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve not eaten yet.¡± Veronica¡¯s grip on the phone almost slipped. Then he added, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡± It turned out that she was a viin¨Cthe absolute worst. ¡°What do you feel like eating?¡± she asked, desperate to make it up to him. ¡°Or we can go out somewhere.¡± There was a long pause. It was so long that Veronica thought he had fallen asleep. ¡°Forget it,¡± Ashton said quietly as he erged a photo of a pale blue dress on his phone. ¡°Next time. We¡¯ve got plenty of chances. It¡¯s okay.¡± Earlier that day, Howard had already reported to him that Veronica had borrowed a dress for Jocelyn. Thus, Ashton had a feeling that dinner might get canceled, but he waited anyway, hoping that Veronica would message him. That hope dragged on until 10:00 pm. It seemed that this little heartbreaker always broke his heart with lies. He stared at the photo for a while, his sculpted features cast in shadow by the moonlight. ¡°Alright,¡± Veronica said, relieved. ¡°Just let me know what you want next time. Anything is epted.¡± She was d that he was so understanding. By noon the next day, Heberly delivered the dress to Jocelyn. The real thing looked even better than the photos, especially once Jocelyn tried it on. Veronica had revised the design of the back, recing the original lines with a soft ring of sea pearls that framed her delicate shoulder des. Jocelyn already had a tall, elegant figure with striking features. With a bold red lip, she was impossible to look away from. The dress suited her perfectly. Standing in front of the full¨Clength mirror, Jocelyn shed her first tear in days. This time, it was not from sadness. It was from pure, overwhelming joy. ¡°Veronica, thank you. I swear, I¡¯m going to walk that stage in this.¡± Dangerous 91 Ver¨®nica wiped the tears from the corner of Jocelyn¡¯s eyes and said, ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°Okay. Crying makes me ugly,¡± Jocelyn said,ughing as she lifted her tear¨Cstreaked face. Veronica chuckled softly. ¡°That¡¯s not true. Those tears just make you look heartbreakingly beautiful.¡± Her answer was unexpected, but it made perfect sense somehow. Jocelyn¡¯s tears stopped just like that, and her smile shone like the early spring sun, radiant and bright. That afternoon, the evening gown for the event arrived. Jocelyn tried it on, and it fit perfectly. Everyone was now waiting for the awards ceremony the next day. Meanwhile, online buzz about Theodore designing a gown for Eleanor using 520 diamonds dominated the trending topics. She hadn¡¯t even made an appearance yet, but all eyes were already on her. In the past year, Eleanor had only shot two films. One was as a supporting actress, and the other hadn¡¯t even been released yet. She had won the title of ¡°Best Actress¡± years ago, and this nomination was mainly a courtesy extended by the organizers. Out of curiosity, Veronica checked out the design Theodore had released. Hiseback this time was clearly tied to Eleanor¡¯s return. The dress was beautiful and extravagant, and each diamond sparkled intensely. It was apparent how much effort and craftsmanship had gone into the piece. Theodore emphasized that it was an exclusive, original piece explicitly designed for Eleanor. But for some reason, Veronica thought that it looked strangely familiar. She was sure that she had seen something like this before, and not recently, either. Still, Eleanor¡¯s gown made a bold debut. It held the top spot on the trending topics for two full days. It was all until the day of the Arclight Awards. To drum up hype and views, the organizersunched a livestream of the event. Fans and viewers had gathered early in the live chat room. The crowd on¨Csite was bigger than ever before. It even outnumbered the guests invited to the ceremony. The awards show was held at the grand auditorium in the city center. Outside, traffic came to a standstill as the streets were packed with people Veronica was riding with Jocelyn in her celebrity van, nning to apany her to the venue. But ahead of them, a white sedan remainedpletely unmoved, even after the crowd had been cleared. It blocked the only road forward. Jocelyn¡¯s red carpet appearance wasn¡¯t scheduled for the finale, so she still needed to head backstage early to touch up her makeup and have her gown steamed. Harry sent someone to negotiate with the obstructing driver, but even after pounding on the window, no one inside budged. If Jocelyn got out of the car and walked in that gown, it would take at least half an hour for her to reach her destination. It was utterly impractical. But if they stayed stuck here, they¡¯d miss the entrance window, and the organizers would consider it a forfeit. ¡°Stay in the van, Jocelyn. Don¡¯t get out,¡± Veronica instructed before throwing on a protective cover¨Cup and stepping out. She headed straight for the white sedan. Inside the white car, Bruce was on the phone with Archie. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Lane. I¡¯ve got them blocked, bumper to bumper. There¡¯s no way they¡¯re getting through tonight.¡± ¡°Good. Well done! If this works out, I¡¯ll reward you handsomely!¡± In another celebrity van, Archie hung up the phone with satisfaction. Theodore, unimpressed, said, ¡°Archie, don¡¯t be so childish. This kind of petty tactic might work on your girlfriend, but that¡¯s about it.¡± Archie snapped, ¡°Theodore, would it kill you to shut up for once? At least I¡¯m doing something. What¡¯s that useless dress of yours supposed to aplish?¡± ¡°Useless? Archie, if you can¡¯t say anything smart, then shut that damn mouth of yours. Do you really think this is enough to keep them in check? You can run, but you can¡¯t hide. All you¡¯re doing is pping a band¨Caid on a bullet wound.¡± ¡°Oh, please. Do you have any ideas? What are you going to do? Draw a circle and curse them? Do you think making a blog ssh on the trending page means Eleanor gives a damn? Quit wasting your energy!¡± Just as the two were about to break into a full¨Cblown shouting match, Eleanor¡¯s face turned dark. She barked, ¡°Enough! Stop fighting already!¡± Both men turned around simultaneously, only to meet Eleanor¡¯s beautiful red¨Crimmed eyes. Dangerous 92 Chapter 92 Eleanor lookedpletely drained, slumped in the corner of the seat, trembling slightly. She looked so pitiful that it was almost painful to watch. ¡°El, are you alright?¡± ¡°El, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Don¡¯te near me.¡± Eleanor curled up behind her seatbelt, wallowing in self¨Cpity. ¡°I¡¯m just a little sad. After being away for so long, I just wanted to attend a ceremony and catch up with old friends quietly. I don¡¯t want to win anything. didn¡¯te to take anything away from anyone¡­ Theodore couldn¡¯t stand seeing her upset. Protective as ever, he said, ¡°El, don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ve already pulled strings in the industry. No one will lend that woman a dress!¡± ¡°But I heard that¡­ Jocelyn hired Veronica as her fashion consultant. I¡¯m scared¡­ Heath said he¡¯s busy tonight and couldn¡¯t make it. I¡¯m terrified.¡± Eleanor lifted her chin, and her diamond earrings, set in her earlobes, shimmered with light. Theodore was dying to pull her into his arms andfort her. But of course, Archie had to be sitting right there, ruining the moment. ¡°So, that¡¯s the fashion consultant Jocelyn hired to ruffle feathers, ¡°Theodore said, his smile chilly. He hadn¡¯t even begun his attack on Veronica yet, and she was walking right into the fire. That gown incident yesterday had to be her doing, as a setup to threaten him. Too bad she picked the wrong target. ¡°A woman who couldn¡¯t even hack it as a housewife, and now she thinks she belongs in the fashion industry? What a joke.¡± ¡°El, just wait. Tonight, you¡¯re going to watch them crash and burn.¡± Right after that post went live two days ago, Theodore refunded Jocelyn for the gown and sent two tailors to help her ¡°repair¡± it. He also contacted every respectable brand in the industry and told them not to lend anything to Jocelyn. As such, he figured that she¡¯d probably have no choice but to wear that white feather¨Cfrin dress that night. She clearly loved it. But the moment she brought in a fashion consultant, it was a direct p in the face to Windswept Atelier. It was an act of betrayal. Theodore figured that if Jocelyn wanted a free dress, she¡¯d soon find out what it felt like to fall Chapter92 from grace. Archie had been listening to all of it, and his frown deepened. He¡¯d ordered someone to block Jocelyn¡¯s van just to make sure she wouldn¡¯t embarrass him at the venue. But judging by the look on Theodore¡¯s face, that bastard definitely had something more sinister nned, and it was something that might even drag him down, too. ¡°What the hell is this all for? I already said to keep someone on¨Csite to watch them! If you¡¯re still not satisfied, I¡¯ll call Jocelyn and make her back out of this damn event!¡± Eleanor, teary¨Ceyed, looked at him with admiration. ¡°Archie, you¡¯re amazing.¡± Theodore turned his face away, not wanting to look at either of them. He could hardly stand the sound of it. Archie figured Theodore was a textbook case of sour grapes¨Cjust because he couldn¡¯t have it, he acted like it wasn¡¯t worth having, ¡°Just wait and see.¡± Jocelyn had always been a convenient prop to keep Eleanor in line. He never imagined that one day, a perfectly obedient prop would team up with some outsider to turn against him. Archie stared hard at the celebrity van blocked by the white sedan ahead. He was d that, regardless of her smarts, she was still stuck there He believed that Veronica had totally corrupted Jocelyn. Now, she was all wild and reckless, too. While Archie quietly savored the thought of Jocelyn being trapped in that alleyway van, he even called her just for his own amusement. ¡°Jocelyn, if you don¡¯t have a dress, do us all a favor and stay off the red carpet. Don¡¯t embarrass yourself.¡± Just as he finished speaking, a figure suddenly leaped out of the celebrity van. Looking closely, he realized it was that bitch, Veronica! She was running straight toward the front of the white sedan. Archie let out a mockingugh. Was she trying to fake an ident now? He hoped Bruce would just run her over. He¡¯d pay a few million dors in hush money without even blinking. It¡¯d be worth every penny. Dangerous 93 Archie sat back, ready for a show. The white sedan finally started up. Ten secondster, it carefully maneuvered its way around Veronica. All four tires looked like they were working overtime just to avoid kicking up even a single speck of dust on her. Archie¡¯s smug grin froze on his face. What the hell was that idiot Bruce doing? The blocked celebrity van was finally freed from the roadblock. It picked up Veronica and drove out of the narrow alley. As they passed Archie¡¯s vehicle, the van gave a single honk. Whether it was intentional or not, it was loud, sharp, and unmistakably provocative. Then, it sped off. At that moment, Archie felt like someone had grabbed his face and rubbed it into the pavement. He eximed, ¡°This is unbelievable!¡± Theodore, unsurprised, let out a mocking chuckle. ¡°All that scheming, only for it to be a total waste of time.¡± If Archie hadn¡¯t insisted on staying behind to watch his master n unfold, they would have already been at the venue. Eleanor had only tagged along to humor him, not to witness this unfolding garbage. Theodore had known that Archie wasn¡¯t the sharpest tool in the shed, but hadn¡¯t anticipated him to be this dumb. Expressionless, he turned to look at the van disappearing in the distance. One of the windows was cracked open, and through it, he could vaguely make out Jocelyn still wearing a white down jacket. It was just like he had expected. He thought it was perfect. Archie caught Theodore¡¯s mocking look andpletely lost it. ¡°Theodore, shut the hell up with your useless bullshit! Besides designing your bargain¨Cbin rags, what the hell can you actually do for El?¡± ¡°Sit back and enjoy the show,¡± Theodore said. He crossed his legs and barely looked up. ¡°Hey, we can go now. If El ends up alsote, today¡¯s stupidity won¡¯t be the only thing you¡¯ll be remembered for.¡± Archie opened his mouth to curse again. ¡°Alright, enough. Stop fighting,¡± Eleanor said, feigning distress. ¡°I know you¡¯re both just looking out for me. Archie, since they¡¯ve already left, let¡¯s just go.¡± She thought that Archie was such a loser. Last time, he failed at humiliating Jocelyn with that little stunt, and now he couldn¡¯t even pull off something as simple as blocking a car. It was fortunate that she never actually agreed to be with him. Archie, grumbling under his breath, finally started the car. The atmosphere in the other celebrity van was the ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then wow. Jocelyn¡¯s side must ve really crossed a line.¡± A gleam shed in Eleanor¡¯s eyes After exchanging a nce with Theodore, her expression quickly softened¨Ctouched, even. She truly loved surrounding herself with intelligent people. In just a few sentences, Theodore had not only cleared the air about his tweet, which many had spected was aimed at Jocelyn, but also nted a perfect littlendmine for Jocelyn¡¯s uing appearance. Eleanor thought that it was brilliant. For other baiting questions from reporters, Theodore simply smiled and deflected them. ¡°El and I are just close friends. Please give more attention to her incredible work.¡± Eleanor, holding onto his arm, chimed in right on cue, ¡°Theodore is one of my dearest friends. Herment set Twitter aze. The livestream viewership skyrocketed, surpassing its previous record. Some curious fans noticed that Jocelyn¡¯s team hadn¡¯t released any official styling photos for that night¡¯s event on their studio page. Spection turned into certainty. ¡°Jocelyn! If you don¡¯t have a gown, you can dig for it in the trash. Don¡¯t embarrass yourself by stealing from Eleanor!¡± ¡°I realized that Jocelyn doesn¡¯t just have bad taste in men. She¡¯s rotten to the core.¡± ¡°People were saying she¡¯s the frontrunner for the Best Actress award this year. If she wins, it¡¯s probably rigged!¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a neutral viewer, but can Eleanor¡¯s fans chill? Jocelyn¡¯s acting is good. This award show is about performance, not a beauty contest. ¡°LMAO, okay neutral viewer. So, you admit that Eleanor¡¯s hotter than that desperate, lovestruck mess? Sorry, but El won her Best Actress award at the age of 24. Try again.¡± The red carpet event hadn¡¯t even started, but the online hate against Jocelyn was already boiling over. By the time Jocelyn¡¯s fan arrived, the narrative had beenpletely hijacked by Eleanor¡¯s supporters. The inte was a war zone, and onlookers were glued to the drama. Everyone was waitir a statement from Jocelyn¡¯s side. At this point, it seemed like the moment Jocelyn stepped onto the red carpet, even the most humiliating rumors¨Clike her wearing adult diapers could surface. Veronica locked her phone screen, frowning deeply. By the looks of it, whether Jocelyn spoke or not, opportunists would twist her every word. Veronica thought that this entire incident was vicious. Dangerous 95 Veronica couldn¡¯t detach herself from what was lippening. Once Jocelyn changed into her red carpet gown, Veronica kept a close eye on her, watching her every expression. Jocelyn lifted the hem of her dress and said lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t stress, Veronica. What¡¯s meant toe wille. This industry is full of bandwagoners. Once you fall, everyone wants to step on you.¡± She said it with ease, as if it didn¡¯t matter at all. But only the person living it knew how bitter it really was. What Veronica couldn¡¯t understand was why someone like Jocelyn, who was strong, independent, and a wildly sessful actress, would still be tangled up with a man like Archie. When Jocelyn had been in trouble, her so¨Ccalled boyfriend hadn¡¯t spoken a single word in her defense. He even used the opportunity to throw her under the bus. Veronica didn¡¯t believe for a second that Jocelyn hadn¡¯t noticed this. And yet, her attitude toward Archie remained strangely humble. It was the exact kind of ¡± hopelessly in love¡± image the public had painted of her. However, it was the 21st century. There were more ways to repay kindness than giving your entire self to someone. ¡°Jocelyn, do you really love Archie?¡± Veronica asked. A flicker of amusement shed through Jocelyn¡¯s eyes. ¡°Why bring him up? I was just getting by.¡± Veronica didn¡¯t continue speaking. Nevertheless, she held Jocelyn¡¯s gaze, clearly still probing. Jocelyn¡¯s smile widened as she finally admitted, ¡°Fine. Maybe I do feel something for him. He¡¯s the Lane family¡¯s heir, after all. In this industry, having him around at least keeps the predators at bay.¡± That was a perfectly reasonable answer that was rooted in survival. Veronica half believed her, but still felt that there was more to it. Still, if Jocelyn didn¡¯t want to say, she wouldn¡¯t pry. Harry had decided that the studio would hold off on making any public statement, despite the mounting pressure. The red carpet event had already begun. Eleanor, as that night¡¯s undisputed queen of attention, had her originally scheduled five- minute red carpet appearance stretched over 20 minutes. Her red¨Ccarpet look featured a crimson, strapless gown, sponsored by a major brand. Her hair was styled in an elegant princess updo, and her makeup, as always, was delicately understated. She donned her signature fresh¨Cfaced and refined style. The entire look leaned heavily on styling to hold it together. It was wless on paper, yet it left many quietly disappointed. When the host asked why she wasn¡¯t wearing the diamond gown, Eleanor blushed and replied, ¡°The best is meant to be saved forst.¡± The host yed along and remarked, ¡°It sounds like Eleanor has a surprise in store for us at tonight¡¯s award show. We¡¯re definitely looking forward to it!¡°. ¡°She¡¯s stunning! I can¡¯t stop staring!¡± ¡°Jocelyn¡¯s next! I want to see how shepares to our queen!¡± The giant red carpet screen disyed live advertisements and the order of arrivals of the guests. Jocelyn¡¯s name had just appeared. Everyone watched her entrance like tigers eyeing their prey. Even Eleanor lingered longer than necessary, drawing out her segment by entertaining light gossip from the host, secretly hoping for a front¨Crow seat to Jocelyn¡¯s humiliation. She wanted that woman to see where she stood in the industry. Eleanor believed that Jocelyn had no right to touch anything of hers, even those that she didn¡¯t want. Minutes ticked by, and the red carpet remained empty for three whole minutes. Nevertheless, no one appeared. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did Jocelyn chicken out and decide not to show up?¡± ¡°Someone just saw her team frantically making calls backstage. They¡¯re probably begging people for help.¡± ¡°Was she actually nning to wear the dress Mr. Baker designed for Eleanor? That¡¯s beyond embarrassing!¡± The press staff and attendees buzzed with spection. Theodore stood among them, his lips curling coldly. He thought that Jocelyn was utterly pathetic. He had actually hoped that her walking the carpet in that dress might help bring more attention to Windswept Atelier. But that woman didn¡¯t even have the guts to show up. Theodore thought that it was such a letdown. Dangerous 96 C ¡°Look! Jocelyn¡¯s here!¡± someone shouted. At the end of the red carpet, Jocelyn appeared in a vibrant red gown, gliding forward with each elegant step. Large peony blossoms bloomed along the hem, and she moved with such grace and presence. Her bold, sculpted features -a blend of striking mixed heritage¨Cweren¡¯t overshadowed by the dress in the slightest. The blush along her cheeks added ayer of poise and refinement, giving her the air of a dignified, exotic beauty. Everyone went silent, as if time itself had stopped. Everyone had the same thought¨Cshe was absolutely stunning. ¡°I take it back. After looking at Jocelyn¡¯s face, I can¡¯t bring myself to say a single bad word. She¡¯s just too stunning.¡± ¡°Is that one of Mr. Baker¡¯s designs? It¡¯s gorgeous!¡± Theodore, who was just about to leave, froze mid¨Cstep in the audience section. The confident smile on his face vanished the moment he saw what Jocelyn was wearing. He couldn¡¯t believe it! ¡°Jocelyn! You made it!¡± The host abandoned Eleanor without a second thought, rushing forward to greet Jocelyn, visibly excited. He could already tell that Jocelyn was going to be the breakout star of the night. Eleanor¡¯s smile nearly cracked. Theodore knew that she was wearing red that night, and he still dared to give such a stunning dress to Jocelyn? shes from press cameras exploded as they captured shot after shot of Jocelyn while Eleanor seethed with jealousy on the inside. When Jocelyn reached the interview area, Eleanor forced apliment through gritted teeth.¡± Jocelyn, you look gorgeous tonight. We were all waiting for you.¡± Jocelyn tucked a curl behind her ear, every gestureced with elegance. Her voice held a quiet confidence, neither meek nor arrogant, as she said, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Ms. Turner. ¡°I just found out that Hunter, who was scheduled to arrive before me, had to leave early due to a scheduling conflict between the dyed red carpet entry and his flight time. ¡°At the time, my dress hadn¡¯t even finished being steamed yet, so I rushed to get here. I¡¯m sorry to keep everyone waiting.¡± The moment her wordsnded, the entire venue fell into dead silence. Eleanor had just hogged the red carpet for nearly 30 minutes. Hunter Banks, a superstar, was not a nominee that night. However, he had been invited by the organizers just to greet fans and make a brief appearance. But now, thanks to Eleanor¡¯s dy, he¡¯d had to leave early. Hunter¡¯s fans at the venue lost itpletely when they realized this. ¡°Eleanor, you ugly hag! You¡¯re old and washed up. How dare you still hog the camera! I came here for Hunter, not to see you!¡± That single outburst stirred a storm. Veronica looked in surprise at the diehard Hunter fan standing next to her. When she entered the venue, she noticed that the fan had alreadyid out a variety of support banners and merchandise. It was clear how much she had been looking forward to seeing him. The frustration over Eleanor¡¯s dy turned into full¨Cblown devastation. Fans of other celebrities instantly felt the same. Eleanor¡¯s face turned pale. Then, she spotted Veronica standing next to the furious fan. Rage surged through her. She figured that this was all Veronica¡¯s doing. She was behind all of this! Eleanor dug her nails into her palm. Security quickly escorted the shouting fan out. Meanwhile, Jocelyn turned toward the crowd and gave Veronica a yful wink. A rare smile. bloomed on her otherwise calm face. Photographers and the host reacted immediately following her gaze. ned with The cameranded on a woman in the audience, dressed in a modern, almond¨Ccolored silk blouse and matching skirt. Her makeup was light her presence soft, but her eyes { quiet intensity. It was impossible to look away from her. She was apletely different kind of beauty from Jocelyn¡¯s, but was just as striking. Andpared to Eleanor, who had a somewhat simr aesthetic, this woman outshone her by a mile. ¡°Why do I feel like this woman in the audience is even prettier than Jocelyn?¡± ¡°Jeez, you don¡¯t have to point that out. Is she a friend of Jocelyn¡¯s, or something? It feels like they know each other.¡± ¡°Enough nonsense! If you can¡¯t see clearly, get your eyes checked. Eleanor didn¡¯t stand out earlier because her clothes didn¡¯t highlight her beauty. Just wait for tonight. If she doesn¡¯t blow you away, I¡¯ll eat my hat.¡± ¡°Who says Jocelyn was even looking at her? Mr. Baker¡¯s sitting right behind her! That smile was definitely for him.¡± C Dangerous 97 hapter 97 The host was just as stunned by the woman in the audience as everyone else. Veronica had taken his breath away. At first nce, he hadn¡¯t even noticed Theodore sitting behind her. He thought that Veronica was breathtaking and wondered if she was new to the industry. But before he could think more about it, the voice of the red carpet producer buzzed through his earpiece. ¡°This is a great opportunity. Bring Jocelyn and Theodore into the conversation about the dress!¡± The host immediately got the hint. He cleared his throat and said with a long, deliberate tone, ¡°It looks like Jocelyn just spotted a familiar face¡­ Mr. Baker!¡± He dragged out the name before continuing smoothly, ¡°Jocelyn, your gown tonight is stunning. The inte is already abuzz with spection that it¡¯s a Mr. Baker original. Do you have anything you¡¯d like to say to him?¡± The host skillfully steered the conversation right to the tension between them. In the audience, Theodore¡¯s expression softened a little. No matter how well Jocelyn yed coy, he was confident that she wouldn¡¯t pass up the opportunity to climb higher by attaching himself to him. But there was something about the woman sitting just in front of him that seemed familiar. His gaze slowly dropped, a flicker of disdain in his eyes. Everyone assumed that he was displeased with Jocelyn for wearing one of his designs without permission. ¡°I wasn¡¯t looking at Mr. Baker. I was looking at thedy in front of him, Ms. Veronica Dolton, my fashion consultant for tonight¡¯s event,¡± Jocelyn said bluntly. Gasps rippled through the crowd. Even the host was surprised. ¡°And as for Mr. Baker designing this gown, I¡¯m not sure where that rumor started,¡± she continued with a note of curiosity in her voice. ¡°Stop pretending, you thief! You stole Eleanor¡¯s dress! No wonder she wore a red gown tonight! She¡¯s trying topensate for the loss!¡± ¡°Jocelyn! Leave the entertainment industry! Remove yourself from the Arclight Awards!¡± The host kept up a professional smile, but his heart was racing. ¡°Jocelyn, you¡¯re quite the jokester. Are you saying that you forgot your gown was designed by Mr. Baker?¡± ¡°Who said that?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s red lips curled ever so slightly. ¡°My red carpet gown tonight is from Maison Aurelia, designed by Ms. ra Whitmore. The evening gown I¡¯ll be changing intoter was borrowed from Heberly. My fashion consultant, Ms. Dolton, oversaw the entire styling process.¡± She paused, then followed up with a cutting question, ¡°So¡­ where exactly does Mr. Bakere in? Could it be a misunderstanding? Should I get the head designers of both dresses over right now?¡± Jocelyn¡¯s three¨Cpointed questions left the room in stunned silence. The host was already starting to sweat under the hot lights. He didn¡¯t know what the hell was going on. After all, this wasn¡¯t what they were told before the show. Sitting in the audience, Veronica could feel the eyes from every direction zeroing in on her. However, she didn¡¯t flinch. Her expression was serene and faintly content. In stark contrast, Theodore, who was just behind her, looked like he could kill someone with a nce. His grace from earlier was gone without a single trace. Although the camera had cut away quickly, many had already caught the look on his face. ¡°Someone¡¯s mad because Jocelyn hit a nerve with the truth, huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s honestly scary. If Jocelyn hadn¡¯t looked so incredible tonight, and the host hadn¡¯t asked, everyone would¡¯ve assumed that the dress was Theodore¡¯s design!¡± ¡°How does it feel to get pped in the face in public like that? To the person who promised to eat their hats, don¡¯t forget your dinner tonight!¡± ¡°I knew that Jocelyn was looking at that gorgeous woman! Some of the fans here are really delusional, it¡¯s hrious!¡± ¡°Eleanor¡¯s fangirls, keep barking! Don¡¯t stop now!¡± ¡°What are you guys all so proud of? It¡¯s just a dress! If it¡¯s not his design, so be it. Mr. Baker never even said she¡¯d be wearing his work tonight. You guys are acting pressed over nothing! Get a grip! The award ceremony is the real main event, anyway.¡® Eleanor had already stepped off the red carpet by the time the host asked Jocelyn about the dress. Now that she had heard the full story, the makeup she had painstakingly applied all afternoon. seemed to crack under the weight of her fury. Theodore was just as useless. Eleanor had thought that he was at least a notch above that idiot, Archie. In the end, it was Theodore who nearly caused her to suffer a hu failure. ating public Moreover, there was Veronica. Eleanor believed that it was thetter who was behind it all. Veronica knew that Jocelyn and Eleanor were at odds with each other. That was why she had gone to Jocelyn¡¯s studio, pretending to be some so¨Ccalled fashion consultant. It seemed that Veronica was a darned schemer! The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!